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Vietnamese dissident laid to rest Vietnamese dissident laid to rest
(about 2 hours later)
The funeral of leading Vietnamese Buddhist dissident Thich Huyen Quang has gone ahead under tight security.The funeral of leading Vietnamese Buddhist dissident Thich Huyen Quang has gone ahead under tight security.
Hundreds of monks and believers had gathered outside a pagoda at the Nguyen Thieu monastery in central Vietnam for the ceremony.Hundreds of monks and believers had gathered outside a pagoda at the Nguyen Thieu monastery in central Vietnam for the ceremony.
Mr Quang, who was 87, had spent most of the last three decades in prison or under house arrest. Thich Huyen Quang, who was 87, had spent most of the last three decades in prison or under house arrest.
He led the outlawed Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, which refused to submit to communist government control.He led the outlawed Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, which refused to submit to communist government control.
The BBC's Nga Pham, in Bangkok, says that his death raises questions about who will take over as head of the Vietnamese dissident Buddhist movement.The BBC's Nga Pham, in Bangkok, says that his death raises questions about who will take over as head of the Vietnamese dissident Buddhist movement.
Crowds of supporters had gathered early outside the Nguyen Thieu monastery to bid farewell to their spiritual leader, who died last week after a long illness.Crowds of supporters had gathered early outside the Nguyen Thieu monastery to bid farewell to their spiritual leader, who died last week after a long illness.
Tight securityTight security
Tensions were high around the pagoda where the funeral was to be held, with plainclothes police monitoring UBCV monks, Paris-based supporters told the Associated Press news agency.Tensions were high around the pagoda where the funeral was to be held, with plainclothes police monitoring UBCV monks, Paris-based supporters told the Associated Press news agency.
Thich Huyen Quang was first arrested in 1977 after he publicly criticised the communist regime for suppressing religious freedom.Thich Huyen Quang was first arrested in 1977 after he publicly criticised the communist regime for suppressing religious freedom.
He spent most of the next 30 years under house arrest, but continued to call for human rights and political reforms in Vietnam.He spent most of the next 30 years under house arrest, but continued to call for human rights and political reforms in Vietnam.
Nobel laureates including the Dalai Lama appealed for his release.Nobel laureates including the Dalai Lama appealed for his release.
Thich Huyen Quang's Unified Buddhist Church was banned in 1981 after refusing to join the religious movement sanctioned by Vietnam's Communist Party leaders.Thich Huyen Quang's Unified Buddhist Church was banned in 1981 after refusing to join the religious movement sanctioned by Vietnam's Communist Party leaders.
Mr Quang leaves a large gap for the church to fill, our correspondent says. He leaves a large gap for the church to fill, our correspondent says.