Campaigning began in South Vietnam on Monday (20 August) for the country's Senate elections, due to be held on Sunday(26 August). Placards and pesters for the candidates were strung across streets in Bien Hea, the first venue for the campaign speeches.

Crowds of people gathered outside the conference hell to watch the candidates arrive for the meeting. Among the first were former South Vietnamese Foreign Minister Tran Van Lam and former Health Minister October Tran Minh Tung.

A report from Saigon on Monday said that President Thieu was expected to seek a constitutional amendment that would allow him to run for a third term in 1975. The possibility of such an amendment would probably create controversy, and political observers see it as the real significance of South Vietnamese Senate election campaign.

SYNOPSIS: Posters and placards were erected around Bien Hea in south Vietnam on Monday as preparations for the country's Senate election campaign get under way. The elections are due to he held on Sunday, and the first campaign speeches were delivered in Bien Hea's Conference Hall.

While people with election harding and banners paraded outside the hall, some of the candidates arrived for the first meeting. Among them was former South Vietnamese Foreign Minister, Tran Van Lam, Another candidate, former Health Minister Dector Tran Minh Tung joined the former foreign minister before the meeting.

About eighty-per cent of South Vietnam's population is expected to vote in the elections.