May 9, 1963 - Seven South Vietnamese persons, including five children, were killed today when riot police and troops broke up a demonstration by nine thousand people in Hue. Reports from Hue, 400 miles north of Saigon, said the troops and police threw grenades to disperse the crowd. But a South Vietnamese Government spokesman in Saigon said the casualties were caused by a grenade thrown from the crowd. The Government said the police used firearms and hoses. The demonstrators were protesting against a Government order forbidding the flying of flags and processions on Buddha’s birthday, which also happens to be the anniversary of the Communist victory over the French at Dienbienphu in 1954. The anniversary is a major holiday for the Communists.
