Romania: Olympic Swimmers Seek U.S. Political Asylum

Bucharest, August 6 (RFE/RL) -- Two Romanian Olympic swimmers have asked for political asylum in the United States, Romanian reports say.

The two, Alexandru Ioanovici and Razvan Petcu, refused to return with the Romanian Olympic squad after the Olympic Games concluded in Atlanta Sunday.

Alexandru Mogos, head of Romania's Olympic delegation, was quoted as saying the two swimmers told the delegation they did not want to return to Romania and wished to stay in the United States to further their careers.