Rockets kill 30 in Phnom Penh

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33445, 29 January 1974, Page 14

Rockets kill 30 in Phnom Penh

(N.Z.P. A.’Reuter—Copyright) PHNOM PENH, Januarj- 27. Thirty persons were killed last night and 70 wounded in the heaviest artillery barrage by insurgents against Phnom Penh so far, the high command reported.

The command said 185 rounds of United Statesmade 105 mm shells smashed into a housing area around President Lon Nol’s private residence, and at Pochentong Airport and Bangkok Village just outside the city. According to military sources 49 rounds burst in and around the compound of the President’s house. The house was hit but there were no reports of casualties. The sources said President Lon Nol was inside the house at the time of the shelling! but it had large bunkers and was heavily protected against' rocket or artillery attacks. Many wounded were still. in the wreckage of their! homes today and rescue workers feared the total casualties would be. more than the official figures of! 100 dead or wounded.

I Last night was the third itime the insurgents have hit] j the Boeng Trabek residential (quarter of the city with; (American heavy field guns l captured from Government! ! forces and sited about six 1 miles south-west of Phnom Penh. The barrages of the previous days killed or wounded about 200 people. | Survivors fleeing the area say insurgents infiltrated into; the Boeng Trabek quarter l under cover of the artillery! barrage and abducted several! people.

But military authorities who immediately sent armoured cars into the area to investigate, say these reports are not true. Military police in the area at the time of the shelling last night say they had intercepted insurgent radio mes-

sages which indicated the target of the barrage was the president's house.