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Vietnam off US religion blacklist Vietnam off US religion blacklist
(40 minutes later)
The United States has removed Vietnam from a list of countries which it says severely violate religious freedom.The United States has removed Vietnam from a list of countries which it says severely violate religious freedom.
The list is published by the state department and includes Iran, China, Sudan and North Korea. The list is published annually by the state department and includes Iran, China, Sudan and North Korea.
Vietnam was removed from the list just days before President George W Bush travels to Vietnam for a meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation.Vietnam was removed from the list just days before President George W Bush travels to Vietnam for a meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation.
Correspondents say there has been a US effort to normalise diplomatic and trade relations with Vietnam. Uzbekistan has been added to the list. The state department says observant Muslims are targeted as extremists.
The US state department said there had been "significant improvements toward advancing religious freedom" in Vietnam. Regarding Vietnam, the state department said there had been "significant improvements toward advancing religious freedom".
The Vietnamese government released earlier on Monday an American activist whose detention for more than a year on terrorism charges was the cause of diplomatic tension between the two countries.The Vietnamese government released earlier on Monday an American activist whose detention for more than a year on terrorism charges was the cause of diplomatic tension between the two countries.
Correspondents say there has been a US effort to normalise diplomatic and trade relations with Vietnam.