Army Keeps Role In Civil Govt.

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30677, 17 February 1965, Page 13

Army Keeps Role In Civil Govt.

(N Z.P.A.- Reuter—Copyright) SAIGON, February 16. South Vietnam's military leaders today reserved the right to step in as “mediator” in political disputes while appointing the former Foreign Minister, Dr. Phan Huy Quat, as Prime Minister.

In a radio broadcast General N. Khan, the armed forces commander, said that after Dr. Quat’s government and a military-civilian council (the temporary legislature) are set up the armed forces would return to a purely military role. The military would act when necessary as a mediator until a government elected by the people is | formed, he added. Dr. Quat’s government will be the ninth in the politically ' turbulent 16 months which

followed the overthrow of the Diem regime in 1963. General Khanh said the military would keep its promise to hold elections for a national assembly but the timing and procedure would be decided by the new provisional government. The Armed Forces Council also appointed Phan Khac Suu to remain as Chief of State. The assembly, which is scheduled to be elected next month, will write a constitution which will govern the election of a new government. . A Communist leader of an anti-government demonstra- ' tion in which 13 persons were i shot dead yesterday will be

executed tomorrow by firing squad. The military governor of central South Vietnam, Brigadier General N. C. This, said the man was a known Viet Cong terrorist. Yesterday’s demonstration occurred in the district capital of Thang Binh in Quang Tin Province, 300 miles north of Saigon. Government troops fired on the mob when they stormed officials’ houses demanding an end to Government shelling of villages. The crowd also urged the demobilisation of their menfolk from the army. General This said 13 demonstrators were killed, three wounded and a number arrested.