One of Vietnam's most prominent dissidents has appeared in court to appeal his imprisonment for tax evasion, as dozens of supporters protested against the communist state's crackdown on dissent.
Scores of police closed roads and formed a security ring around the Hanoi People's Court of Appeals on Tuesday where Le Quoc Quan was in the dock to appeal his October 2013 conviction.
The Catholic lawyer and blogger was jailed for two and a half years on charges which have been denounced by international rights campaigners as politically motivated.
"I am completely innocent. That is for sure. I am not guilty," Le Quoc Quan said as he addressed the court in a mix of English and Vietnamese.
"I confirm once again that I am the victim of a political conspiracy. I object to this trial," said Quan, who was wearing a thick coat and jumper in the courtroom.
Quan - who is on the 17th day of a hunger strike, according to his brother - looked tired and thin as he stood in the dock and appeared to swoon at one point, prompting security guards to prop him up.
His lawyer Pham Quang Nghiem told the court that the tax evasion charges were a joke.
"If you want to try Le Quoc Quan for his activism, you don't need to bring him to court for tax evasion," he said.
The 43-year-old lawyer, who blogged on a range of sensitive topics including civil rights, political pluralism and religious freedom, has been in detention since December 2012.
Quan's younger brother, Le Quoc Quyet, said outside the court that the family had not been given permission to attend the hearing.
Shouting "Free Le Quoc Quan" and waving signs calling for the Catholic lawyer's release, around 150 people gathered outside the court as his appeal hearing got under way, causing rush-hour traffic chaos.
The scale of the protest was unusual in Vietnam, where authorities keep a tight lid on dissent.
Hundreds of confused commuters were caught up in the early-morning protest.
