BENGHAZI, Libya: A top Libyan security official says four foreigners currently under arrest have been accused of espionage in addition to proselytizing Christianity.

The group, which includes a Swedish-American, a South Korean, a South African and an Egyptian, was arrested last week in the eastern city of Benghazi with tens of thousands of copies of literature about Christianity in their possession.

The police chief behind the arrests, Abdel-Salam el-Barghathi, told The Associated Press Monday that embassy officials have been allowed access to the four, but the group has raised suspicions by refusing to meet any.

The U.S. Embassy in Libya has declined requests for comment.

Egyptian detainee Sherif Ramsis told the AP he was on a missionary trip to Libya to spread Christianity, but was not aware of espionage allegations against him.