SOUTH VIETNAM: SHOOTING IN DANANG BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND REBEL FORCES

Record ID: 324520

  • Title: SOUTH VIETNAM: SHOOTING IN DANANG BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND REBEL FORCES
  • Date: 22nd May 1966
  • Summary: DANANG FIGHTING; SAIGON DEMONSTRATION. Initials PBS/V/JH/JG Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 6th June 1966 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: DANANG, AND SAIGON, SOUTH VIETNAM
  • Country: Vietnam
  • Reuters ID: LVA1KYKLWCCZXDE89QNP83DAG5PS
  • Story Text: FIERCE FIGHTING BROKE OUT IN DANANG ON THURSDAY BETWEEN REBELS AND DISSIDENT GOVERNMENT TROOPS AND GOVERNMENT FORCES.

    TWO BUDDHIST MONKS WERE KILLED IN THE FIGHTING.

    THE FIGHTING BECAME INTENSE WHEN GOVERNMENT PARATROOPERS MOVED TWO TANKS TOWARDS THE PHO DA PAGODA WHICH THE REBELS USED AS THEIR HEADQUARTERS.

    GOVERNMENT TROOPS HAD BEEN ORDERED TO ATTACK THE TWO MAIN PAGODAS IN DANANG LAST SUNDAY IN AN ATTEMPT TO REASSERT GOVERNMENT CONTROL IN THE NORTHERN CITY.

    DANANG HAS BEEN OCCUPIED BY TROOPS OPPOSING MARSHALL KY'S GOVERNMENT FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS.

    GOVERNMENT TROOPS MOVED INTO KEY BUILDINGS IN FORCE ON SUNDAY AFTER FIERCE STREET FIGHTING. THE REBELS RETREATED INTO THE PHO DA AND TINH HOI PAGODAS, REGARDED AS STRONGHOLDS OF THE BUDDHIST'S ANTI-GOVERNMENT CAMPAIGN.

    IN SAIGON ON FRIDAY, THE UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR HENRY CABOT LODGE RETURNED FROM WASHINGTON AFTER TALKS WITH PRESIDENT JOHNSON ON THE VIETNAM ISSUE.

    HE REFUSED TO COMMENT ON THE TROUBLE POLITICAL SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM.

    ON FRIDAY NIGHT BUDDHIST STUDENTS DEMONSTRATED IN SAIGON AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT FORCES' ACTION IN DANANG.

    THE DEMONSTRATION WAS ONE OF THE NOISIEST IN THE CAPITAL FOR SOME MONTHS.

    RIOT POLICE CALLED OUT TO DISPERSE THE STUDENTS, FIRED TEARGAS GRENADES AT THE STUDENTS. THE STUDENTS RETALIATE BY THROWING HOMEMADE INCENDIARY BOMBS, STONES AND TEARGAS GRENADES THEY HAD RETRIEVED.

    THE DEMONSTRATION ENDED WHEN HEAVILY ARMED COMBAT TROOPS BLOCKED THE PATH OF THE DEMONSTRATORS.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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