HANOI, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Vietnam's Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has said opponents of the nation's communist regime were using religion and human rights as methods to destabilise the country.
The Communist Party daily Nhan Dan (People) on Friday reproduced a speech in which Khai told representatives of the country's police force that plots against Vietnam had become more wicked.
"(Hostile forces) have taken advantages of 'hot spots' and complicated issues such as religious and ethnic issues to cause disturbances," Khai said.
He did not give any examples of the alleged plots. Vietnam uses the term "hostile forces" to describe opposition to its government.
International rights groups and some foreign governments accuse Vietnam of restricting religious and political freedoms -- charges Hanoi denies.
Khai said corruption by local officials and party members was an important factor that also threatened political, economic and social stability.
Khai's remarks echoed those by Communist Party chief Le Kha Phieu earlier this week, who alerted the country's armed forces to attempts by hostile forces to sabotage and subvert the regime.