1.
SV TOWER (TILT DOWN) BUDDHA'S STATUTE AND PEOPLE PRAYING
0.14

2.
SLV CROWD AT RELIGIOUS CEREMONY
0.20

3.
SV MONKS
0.23

4.
SV GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND DIPLOMATIC CORPS
0.28

5.
LV CROWD
0.31

6.
SV SCHOOLGIRLS
0.33

7.
SV ALTAR -- WITH PORTRAITS OF THICH QUANG DUC AND SCHOOLGIRL
0.37

8.
SV SCHOOLGIRLS PRAYING AT ALTAR
0.40

9.
SLS ANOTHER ALTAR WITH PORTRAIT OF THICH QUANG DUC
0.44

10.
SV CROWD
0.46

11.
SV HEART IN GLASS CASE PLACED ON FLOAT (2 SHOTS)
0.56

12.
SV MONKS LOOKING ON
0.59

13.
SV SOLDIERS WITH WALKIE-TALKIES
1.01

14.
LS BALLOONS BEING RELEASED
1.05

15.
SLS SCHOOLGIRLS IN PROCESSION
1.12

16.
SV CROWD HOLDING BUDDHIST LAGS
1.15

17.
SLS PROCESSION (2 SHOTS)
1.20



Initials DE/V/MGT/PN



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: BUDDHISTS THROUGHOUT SOUTH VIETNAM, ON MAY 26 STAGED MASS RALLIES TO MARK LORD BUDDHA'S 2508TH BIRTHDAY AND COMMEMORATE THEIR MARTYRS IN LAST YEAR'S STRUGGLE AGAINST THE NGO DINH DIEM REGIME.

IN SAIGON, MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE TOOK PART IN A TWO-MILE PROCESSION THROUGH THE CITY AFTER A DAWN RELIGIOUS CEREMONY ATTENDED BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS.

PREMIER NGUYEN KHANH AND THE CHIEF OF STATE, MAJOR GENERAL DUONG VAN MINH, WERE BOTH ABSENT FROM THE CEREMONY. POLITICAL OBSERVERS BELIEVED THE PRIME MINISTER MAY HAVE STAYED AWAY FOLLOWING INDICATIONS THAT SOME CATHOLIC GROUPS WERE RESTLESS OVER THE SUDDEN BUDDHIST RESURGENCE.

THE PROCESSION, SAID TO BE THE BIGGEST IN THE HISTORY OF VIETNAMESE BUDDHISM, WAS HEADED BY A FLOAT BEARING A GLASS CASE IN WHICH IS CLAIMED TO BE THE MIRACULOUSLY PRESERVED HEART OF MONK THICH QUANG DUC, THE FIRST MONK TO BURN HIMSELF ALIVE DURING LAST YEAR'S RELIGIOUS CRISIS.

IN THE MIDST OF THE CELEBRATION, ARMED SOLDIERS WITH WALKIE-TALKIES, REPORTED TO THEIR HEADQUARTERS.