Factbox: International reaction to arrest of Reuters reporters in Myanmar
Wa Lone
(Reuters) - Several countries  the United Nations and journalist groups are demanding the release of  Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo  from detention in Myanmar.  The reporters  were arrested on Dec. 12 after being invited to meet police officials on the outskirts of Yangon. They had worked on stories about a military crackdown in Rakhine state  scene of more than 600 000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh since late August.
Myanmarâs Ministry of Information has said  the reporters â illegally acquired information with the intention to share  it  with foreign media â and released a photo of them in handcuffs.
 It  said the reporters and two policemen faced charges under the British colonial-era Official Secrets Act  which carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years  though officials said they have not been charged. Their exact whereabouts is not known.
- The Committee to Protect Journalists said  âWe call on local authorities to immediately  unconditionally release Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. These arrests come amid a widening crackdown which is having a grave impact on the ability of journalists to cover a story of vital global importance.â
(Reuters) - Several countries  the United Nations and journalist groups are demanding the release of  [TGT]  Oo  from detention in Myanmar.   [TGT] were arrested on Dec. 12 after being invited to meet police officials on the outskirts of Yangon. They had worked on stories about a military crackdown in Rakhine state  scene of more than 600 000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh since late August.
Myanmarâs Ministry of Information has said  the reporters â illegally acquired information with the intention to share  it  with foreign media â and released a photo of them in handcuffs.
 It  said the reporters and two policemen faced charges under the British colonial-era Official Secrets Act  which carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years  though officials said they have not been charged. Their exact whereabouts is not known.
- The Committee to Protect Journalists said  âWe call on local authorities to immediately  unconditionally release Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. These arrests come amid a widening crackdown which is having a grave impact on the ability of journalists to cover a story of vital global importance.â