Four Vietnamese human rights activists have been convicted on charges of plotting to overthrow the country's Communist government, and given sentences ranging from between five and 16 years in jail.

The prominent human rights lawyer and democracy activist Le Cong Dinh was handed the longest term of imprisonment, 16 years. A 26-year-old computer expert was sentenced to seven years; the two other accused were sentenced to five years in jail.

The four were arrested in June of last year, initially on charges of disseminating anti-government propaganda, but last month the charges were unexpectedly widened to include subversion. Human rights groups say the trial points to an increasing clampdown on freedom of speech in Vietnam.

Photo: Vietnamese flag