Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Ha Noi, July 9 (VNA) -- The remains of five American servicemen listed as missing in action (MIA) were given to the U.S. Full Accounting Joint Task Force by representatives of the Viet Nam Office Seeking Missing Persons in Ha Noi on July 9.

The remains were found by joint Vietnamese-U.S. teams during the 64th joint search for MIAs from Feb. 8-Mar. 8, 2001. Those remains have gone through primary tests in Ha Noi by forensic doctors from both countries for identification.

The return of these remains brings the total number of American MIA's returned by Viet Nam since 1973 to 784.

The U.S. Government representative took this opportunity to express thanks and praise for the invaluable help Viet Nam has provided American groups searching for soldiers classified as missing in action.--VNA