1.
M. TIXIER VIGNANCOUR ENTERS MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS


2.
GV OF WAR CEMETERY


3.
M. VIGNANCOUR, PAUL FERAUD, A FRENCH PHARMACIST; A M. COUTARD, A MEMBER OF THE FRENCH CONSULATE


4.
GRAVES; B/G. THREE PERSONS TALKING


5.
M. VIGNANCOUR PUTS WREATH ON MEMORIAL TOWER


6.
THREE PEOPLE LOOKING UP TOWER


7.
THE THREE WALKING TO VIETNAMESE MEMORIAL TOWER


8.
M. VIGNANCOUR PUTS WREATH ON MEMORIAL


9.
VIETNAMESE OFFICER PORTRAIT ON THE TOMBSTONE CU...




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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE FRENCH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, M.TIXIER VIGNANCOUR, HAS BEEN ON AN UNOFFICIAL VISIT TO SOUTH VIETNAM DURING THE PAST WEEK.

M.VIGNANCOUR WAS TO HAVE HAD A MEETING WITH THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE FOREIGN MINISTER, M.TRAN-VAN-DO, ON WEDNESDAY, BUT THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE MINISTER DID NOT KEEP THE APPOINTMENT.

DURING HIS VISIT TO SAIGON, M.VIGNANCOUR VISITED THE WAR CEMETERY AT TAN-SON-NHUT.THE BODIES OF THOUSANDS OF FRENCH TROOPS KILLED DURING THE INDO-CHINESE WAR IN SOUTH VIETNAM ARE BURIED IN THE CEMETERY.

M.VIGNANCOUR, AN EXTREME RIGHT-WING CANDIDATE FOR THE FRENCH PRESIDENCY, SAID IN A NEWSPAPER INTERVIEW IN SAIGON THAT IF HE WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT HE WOULD SEE THAT DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN FRANCE AND SOUTH VIETNAM WERE RESUMED.

HE SAID HIS VISIT TO SOUTH VIETNAM WAS CONNECTED WITH THE FRENCH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN BECAUSE SOUTH VIETNAM WAS ONE OF THE MAIN TOPICS WHICH WOULD BE RAISED DURING THE CAMPAIGN.