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Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap to be buried Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap to be buried
(about 3 hours later)
A two-day state funeral for Vietnamese national hero General Vo Nguyen Giap is in its final stages.A two-day state funeral for Vietnamese national hero General Vo Nguyen Giap is in its final stages.
A grand procession is escorting the general's body from Hanoi, where it has been lying in state, to his home town in Quang Binh province for burial. The general's body is being flown from Hanoi, where it has been lying in state, to his home town in Quang Binh province for burial.
Thousands of people have paid their respects to Gen Giap in Hanoi and at military centres across Vietnam.Thousands of people have paid their respects to Gen Giap in Hanoi and at military centres across Vietnam.
Gen Giap was the military commander credited with overseeing the defeat of French and US forces in his country.Gen Giap was the military commander credited with overseeing the defeat of French and US forces in his country.
He died a week ago at the age of 102.He died a week ago at the age of 102.
In Quang Binh, workers have been rushing to finish his tomb ahead of the burial ceremony.In Quang Binh, workers have been rushing to finish his tomb ahead of the burial ceremony.
The site, a temple on a mountainside by a beach, has already attracted mourners.The site, a temple on a mountainside by a beach, has already attracted mourners.
However, the site is closed to the public until after the funeral.However, the site is closed to the public until after the funeral.
Vietnam War veteran and local resident Phan Thanh Cong said local people were proud that the general had chosen this location for his final resting place.Vietnam War veteran and local resident Phan Thanh Cong said local people were proud that the general had chosen this location for his final resting place.
"It is our greatest happiness to be close to him," he said."It is our greatest happiness to be close to him," he said.
The general's coffin has been lying in state at the National Funeral Hall in Hanoi, draped in the national flag.The general's coffin has been lying in state at the National Funeral Hall in Hanoi, draped in the national flag.
On Sunday, soldiers in white uniforms solemnly removed the flag and carried the red coffin from the hall while other soldiers, bearing a photograph of the general, preceded them.On Sunday, soldiers in white uniforms solemnly removed the flag and carried the red coffin from the hall while other soldiers, bearing a photograph of the general, preceded them.
In a carefully choreographed ceremony, the coffin was then placed on a gun carriage, the flag replaced, and a glass canopy lifted on top of it.In a carefully choreographed ceremony, the coffin was then placed on a gun carriage, the flag replaced, and a glass canopy lifted on top of it.
Gen Giap's family, wearing black, stood nearby.Gen Giap's family, wearing black, stood nearby.
Thousands lined the route to the airport where the coffin was to be flown to Quang Binh.
The son of a rice grower, Vo Nguyen Giap became active in politics in the late 1920s and worked as a journalist before joining Ho Chi Minh's Indochinese Communist Party.The son of a rice grower, Vo Nguyen Giap became active in politics in the late 1920s and worked as a journalist before joining Ho Chi Minh's Indochinese Communist Party.
He helped Ho Chi Minh found the Viet Minh and his defeat of French forces at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 effectively ended French colonial rule in the region.He helped Ho Chi Minh found the Viet Minh and his defeat of French forces at Dien Bien Phu in 1954 effectively ended French colonial rule in the region.
Gen Giap was North Vietnam's defence minister at the time of the Tet Offensive against US forces in 1968, often cited as a key campaign that led to the Americans' withdrawal.Gen Giap was North Vietnam's defence minister at the time of the Tet Offensive against US forces in 1968, often cited as a key campaign that led to the Americans' withdrawal.
It has been more than 30 years since Gen Giap held any position of power within the Vietnamese Communist Party.It has been more than 30 years since Gen Giap held any position of power within the Vietnamese Communist Party.