As it turned out, officials from the local immigration and naturalization office had detained several foreigners.

Resolution 664 demanded that Iraq free all detained foreigners and implied the use of military action if they were not released.

Immigration officials have also detained foreigners for conducting work, academic, or other non-tourist activities while on visitor status.

There were conflicting reports among tourists over the number of foreigners detained during Sunday's and Thursday's protest.

One judge held that foreigners detained at Guantanamo Bay, though they had access to court, could gain no judicial relief.

Last month Britain's highest court ruled that the government could not continue to indefinitely detain foreigners suspected of terrorism without charging or trying them.

With foreigners being rounded up and detained yesterday, the focus was on Tahrir Square and its vicinity.

Immigration and customs officials sometimes detain foreigners without cause, demanding gratuities before allowing them to enter or depart Angola.

Immigration officials say they are only enforcing the law, which will soon impose tougher penalties and extend their powers to detain and deport foreigners.

The immigration authorities are strict about detaining foreigners who are undocumented or tourists who have overstayed.