News In Brief

Vietnam heir apparent seen as Paris-peace negotiator

Le Duc Tho, Vietnam's fifth-ranking Politburo member, who negotiated the Paris agreements with Henry Kissinger, is likely to succeed Le Duan, the ailing head of the Vietnamese Communist Party, Monitor correspondent Louis Wiznitzer reports. Le Duc Tho recently replaced Le Duan as Vietnam's leader while the latter was visiting India. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973, along with Mr. Kissinger, but declined to accept it. According to reliable sources, Le Duc Tho would not be tempted to switch alliances and move his country closer to China.