SCENES IN SAIGON DURING COUP JANUARY 30.



RELEASE OF PRISONERS JANUARY 29.




Initials



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Background: MAJOR GENERAL NGUYEN KHANH, NEW CHAIRMAN OF SOUTH VIETNAM'S MILITARY REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL, HAS MOVED SWIFTLY TO CONSOLIDATE HIS CONTROL OF SOUTH VIETNAM'S GOVERNMENT. BY ASSUMING THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE COUNCIL, HE BECAME HEAD OF STATE. HE ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY (31 JANUARY) THAT MAJOR GENERAL DUONG VAN MINH, THE OVERTHROWN HEAD OF STATE, HAD AGREED TO SERVE THE NEW GOVERNMENT AS AND ADVISOR.

GENERAL KHANH SEIZED POWER IN A SWIFT AND BLOODLESS COUP ON 30 JANUARY. SAIGONESE GOING TO WORK THAT MORNING WERE STARTLED TO SEE ARMORED CARRIERS AND TANKS AT STREET CORNERS AND TROOPS IN THE STREETS. PARATROOPERS SEIZED THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE RULING JUNTA, AND GENERAL MINH'S HOUSE WAS SURROUNDED. THERE WAS NO BLOODSHED AND NO FIGHTING.

SAIGON ITSELF WAS CALM AND THERE WAS LITTLE VISIBLE INDICATION OF THE CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT.