Haiti gov't says Americans took children without permission

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) - Haitian police have detained 10 Americans on suspicion of trying to take children out of the country without proper papers.

Haiti's communications minister says the Americans were taken into custody with about 33 children while trying to reach the Dominican Republic.

Sean Lankford of Meridian, Idaho, says "There are allegations of child trafficking and that really couldn't be farther from the truth." Lankford's wife and daughter are among those detained.

Lankford says the group intended to take the children to an orphanage they had set up at a hotel in the Dominican Republic, and thought they had the proper paperwork.

State Department officials confirmed that U.S. citizens were arrested while applying to enter the Dominican Republic with a group of children. The officials say consular officials are seeking access to the detained Americans and are providing all possible assistance. The official spoke anonymously because discussion of the case is not authorized.