SAIGON


1.
LS POLICE ACROSS ROAD TO HOTEL
0.03

2.
MS POLICE AND SOLDIERS SHOOTING AT HOTEL FROM BEHIND TRESS (THREE SHOTS)
0.17

3.
MLS PART OF HOTEL
0.19

4.
MS MORE SHOOTING (TWO SHOTS)
0.28

5.
MS SOLDIERS SCALLING WALL INTO HOTEL
0.35

6.
MS OTHER SOLDIERS SHOOTING AT HOTEL ENTRANCE AS THEY INCH THEIR WAY IN
0.40.

7.
LS SOLDIER SHOOTS AT BUILDING
0.43

8.
CU DEAD GUERILLAS ON PAVEMENT
0.51

9.
MX TWO CAPTURED GUERRILLAS (TWO SHOTS)
0.57

10.
CU INJURED SOLDIER
1.05

11.
LS DAMAGED JEEP WITH DEAD SOLDIERS
1.12.


DANANG:


12.
MS ARMOURED VEHICLE ON PATROL
1.16

13.
MS VIETNAMESE AND US SOLDIERS STANDBY AS PEOPLE EVACUATE (TWO SHOTS)
1.26

14.
LS JET BOMBING GUERRILLA POSITION
1.29

15.
LS SMOKE FROM HIT POSITION
1.32

16.
LS TROOPS
1.36

17.
CU INJURED CIVILIAN AND SOLDIER (TWO SHOTS)
1.45

18.
LS MORE PEOPLE EVACUATING (THREE SHOTS)
1.58

19.
CU SOLDIER SHOOTING
2.00

20.
MS VIETCONG MORTARED SITE
2.00

21.
MS VIETNAMESE SOLDIERS SHELLING VIETCONG POSITIONS
2.09

22.
LS BATTLE AREA
2.12



Initials CAR/VS/MK/YA/RBI



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: FIGHTING CONTINUED IN SAIGON TODAY (SATURDAY), SIX DAYS AFTER COMMUNIST GUERILLAS LAUNCHED THEIR NATIONWIDE NEW YEAR OFFENSIVE.

THIS FUKN WAS SHOT ON FEBRUARY 1. IT SHOWS SOUTH VIETNAMESE POLICE AND TROOPS TAKING COVER BEHIND HUGE TREES AS THEY ATTACK A PARTLY-BUILT HOTEL FROM WHERE A VIETCONG SQUAD HAD BEEN FIRING ON THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE.

THE GOVERNMENT FORCES, ARMED WITH CARBINES AND M-16 RIFLES, FOUGHT THEIR WAY INTO THE BUILDING AND WIPED OUT THE SQUAD. AMERICAN TROOPS, HELICOPTERED INTO THE CAPITAL AT THE OUTBREAK OF THE VIOLENCE, JOINED THE VIETNAMESE IN FLUSHING OUT THE SNIPERS.

TWO TEENAGED GUERILLAS WERE CAPTURED INSIDE THE BUILDING.

AN ARMY JEEP CARRYING TWO AMERICAN SOLDIERS WAS BLOWN UP BY A VIETCONG HANDGRENADE. IT S OCCUPANTS WERE KILLED INSTANTLY.

DANANG, WITH A POPULATION AROUND 160,000, IS SOUTH VIETNAM'S SECOND LARGEST AND MOST NORTHERLY CITY.

TWELVE HOURS AFTER THE SAIGON GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED IT WAS CANCELLING ITS 36-HOUR TET TRUCE IN THE FIVE NORTHERN PROVINCES, THE GUERILLAS LAUNCHED AN ATTACK. THEY DAMAGED THE CITY'S KEY HIGHWAY BRIDGE AND FOUGHT FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE.

THE BRIDGE CARRIES SOUTH VIETNAM'S MAIN HIGHWAY ONE.

THE AMERICANS AND VIETNAMESE TROOPS IMMEDIATELY GATHERED STRENGTH AND PUSHED OFF THE GUERILLAS. BEFORE CALLING IN AIRSTRIKES ON THE ENEMY POSITIONS, HUNDREDS OF VIETNAMESE FAMILIES WERE MOVED OUT OF THE AREA.