Vietnam | 2nd blogger detained in crackdown 

Vietnamese police detained a second blogger in a week in the latest crackdown on dissent in the Communist country.
Blogger and writer Nguyen Quang Lap was taken into custody and his house searched in the southern hub of Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday. The Ministry of Public Security said in a statement on its website police were investigating Lap’s law violations, but didn’t elaborate.
The Labor newspaper quoted Lap’s wife Ho Thi Hong as saying the family was informed by security police that he was detained for posting articles that oppose the ruling Communist Party.
Lap, 56, often reposts other bloggers’ political and social writings critical of the Communist government.
Last week, police in Ho Chi Minh City detained blogger Hong Le Tho for alleged anti-government postings.
International human rights groups and some Western governments, including the United States, have criticized Vietnam for jailing people for peacefully expressing their views. Hanoi maintains only law breakers are put behind bars.
The latest crackdown comes more than a month after prominent blogger Nguyen Van Hai was freed and put on a flight to the United States. Hai’s case was mentioned by President Barack Obama as Washington continues to urge Vietnam to improve its human rights record.
Vietnam has earlier this year released 12 prisoners of conscience. AP