9 foreigners detained over banned videos

China detained nine foreign tourists - five South Africans, three Britons and one Indian - for suspected ties to a "terror group" after authorities accused them of watching banned videos.

China's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that the nine were "criminally detained" - a term meaning suspects have likely been charged and could be prosecuted - and that 11 others will be deported. All are suspected of violating the law, the ministry said without elaborating.

Law enforcement authorities in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, where the group was detained, are in touch with diplomatic and consular officials from their countries, the ministry added.