Hanoi - The Vietnamese government denied Saturday that Associated Press reporter Ben Stocking had been beaten by security forces while photographing a protest by Catholics in downtown Hanoi on Friday.

A statement issued Saturday on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said there had been "no beating of Ben Stocking by Vietnamese police."

The statement came one day after AP reported Stocking had been punched, choked, and hit over the head with his camera by a police officer while photographing a rally by Catholics against government efforts to clear a disputed plot of land near Hanoi's cathedral.

A video posted on YouTube Friday showed Stocking being led away by a policeman, who appeared to jerk his head sharply down. Stocking was detained by police, who confiscated his camera, and later received four stitches to close a wound in his head.

The ministry's statement said Stocking had violated Vietnamese law by taking photographs in a restricted area. (dpa)