1.
SV Col. Ung Van commander of Takeo sub-district, studies map
0.06

2.
SV Ung Van with Col. Lon Nol (right) & CU Lon Nol
0.19

3.
Travel shot along Highway 3 near Tram Khnar
0.24

4.
SV Soldiers along highway
0.35

5.
SV Milestone noting Phnom Penh 50 kms to north. Note this is furthest south Khmer forces have reached of many months
0.40

6.
SV Soldiers across paddyfield
0.45

7.
SV Officer points
0.46

8.
SV Soldiers through graveyard & approach hedge
1.04

9.
Reverse angle. Soldiers through hedge
1.18

10.
SV Soldiers take breather near pagoda
1.23



Initials SGM/1610 SGM/1648



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Khmer government forces launched a major operation on Thursday (May the 20th) to re-open highway three. The highway runs south from the capital of Phnom Penh to the port of Kampot. They are hoping to re-open the road to the coast, then the road which leads along the coast to the country's only deep water port of Kompong Som. Highway four which leads from Phnom Penh directly to Kompong Som is also blocked by the communists.

The operation is under the command of Colonel Lon Nol, brother of the country's Prime Minister, Marshal Lon Nol. Although the drive southwards has been slowed down by hundreds of villagers abandoning their homes to escape the fighting, the troops have gone farther south on the road than they've been for many months. So far there has been little contact with the Communists who have held the road for more than a year.