1.
Demonstrators towards camera PAN to roadblock
9 ft

2.
Military police behind barricade
13 ft

3.
Protest banner PAN down demonstrator showing loss of foot
18 ft

4.
MP with rifle, Palace in b/w
20 ft

5.
Roadblock PAN to demonstrators
24 ft

6.
Veteran takes off wooden leg while another compares it with wooden arm (four shots)
37 ft

7.
Veterans and relatives seated in group
41 ft

8.
Palace aide speaks to veterans (two shots)
46 ft



Initials jt/v/ac



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: South Vietnam's war veterans, who for weeks have been demonstrating for a better deal from the government, are showing no signs of a let-up in their relentless campaign. At the weekend 150 of them marched on the Presidential Palace in Saigon to continue their demands for housing.

But 200 yards from the palace they were stopped by military police and barbed-wire barricades. They were told it was not possible to see President Thieu personally. Later a palace aide spoke to them and said he would arrange a meeting for them today (Monday) with the war Veterans Minister.

So far the government has provided 5,000 houses for the limbless veterans, but a spokesman for the former soldiers said these were inadequate.

The government has promised a further building programme. But with Vietnamese refugees from Cambodia also seeking houses and the armed forces suffering 2,000 wounded every week - many of the victims losing limbs - the problem is likely to become an increasingly difficult one for the Saigon authorities.