1.
GV Helicopter gunner PAN TO ground
0.06

2.
LV Helicopter landing
0.08

3.
LV Soldiers across paddy field
0.13

4.
SV Soldiers across stream
0.19

5.
SV Soldiers along path towards camera
0.24

6.
SV Party of pedants & monks with white flags
0.35

7.
SV Party past camera & Reverse Angle towards command post
0.45

8.
SV ARVN officers study maps
0.50

9.
SV Officer questions monks & peasants
0.56

10.
SV Monks pray
1.06

11.
SV Monks return to bombed-out temple
1.15



Initials SGM/1830 SGM/1651



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: South Vietnamese troops have begun a new seep through the region known as the Parrot's Beak in the south-east of the Khmer Republic. They are looking for 600 Communists believed to be operating in the area.

The operation began on Thursday, and by Saturday no contact with the Communists had yet been made as the ARVN scoured the paddy fields. About 3000 troops are involved.

The move follows a lull in ground fighting in the northern part of South Vietnam since the start of this week.

Late last month, South Vietnamese troops launched a campaign against about 800 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong guerrillas believed to be operating n the northern flank of Highway One, northeast of the Parrot's Beak.

At least 10,000 South Vietnamese troops are still operating in the Khmer Republic during the current monsoon season - half the peak total of 20,000 during the dry season.

SYNOPSIS: South Vietnamese troops have begun a new sweep through the region known a the Parrot's Beak in the south-east of the Khmer Republic. They are looking for 600 Communist who are believed to be operating in the area. The operation began on Thursday and by Saturday no contact h the Communists had been made as the South Vietnamese forces - the ARVN - scoured the flooded paddy fields.

One unit came across a small group of peasants and monks carrying white flags. They were searched and then marched to the nearby ARVN command post for interrogation.

They were asked if they had seen or heard of the Communist guerrilla who are believed to be planning to launch attacks towards Saigon from the Parrot's Beak, which reaches to within 35 miles of the South Vietnamese capital. Later the monk chanted a prayer for the success of the ARVN offensive. Then they returned to their bombed-out temple while the troops returned to sweep the paddy fields.