1.
LV People seated
0.05

2.
GV & CU Coffins
0.13

3.
SV Stone crucifix
0.16

4.
SV & CU Monsignor Lousdrecht and procession
0.24

5.
SV Clerics
0.32

6.
SV Wives of victims
0.37

7.
CU Monsignor Lousdrecht
0.40

8.
GV Congregation
0.45

9.
GV Coffins
0.48

10.
GV French servicemen
0.51

11.
GV PAN Congregation
0.56

12.
CU French Ambassador
1.01

13.
LV & SV Monsignor Lousdrecht addresses congregation (3 shots)
1.11

14.
GTV Ceremony
1.14



Initials GEP/VS/BOB/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Communist Pathet Lao News Agency today (Saturday) denied that their forces were responsible for the shooting of five Frenchmen in Laos last week. A funeral service was held this Thursday (17 April) in the Vientiane Roman Catholic Cathedral in Laos for the five men.

Since the cathedral was too small, the service was held outside. Monsignor Lousdrecht, the Bishop of Vientiane, officiated, and the French Ambassador made the eulogy. A guard of honour from the French Armed Forces stood beside the five, flag-draped coffins. The families of the dead men sat in the front of the congregation, with representatives from the Laotian government.

The five men -- two officials of the French economic aid mission to Laos, a professor at the Vientiane technical school and two airmen -- were shot at Thangon about 20 miles (32 Kms) from Vientiane. The Pathet Lao representative in Vientiane was reported to have told French officials that he reluctantly acknowledged Pathet Lao responsibility for the killings, which were the result of misunderstood orders. Today's denial blamed the killings on "the U.S. and its henchmen."