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US scraps scheme to re-settle Viets

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WASHINGTON has written off a controversial plan to re-settle thousands of boat people and is now drafting a new international scheme to accelerate their return to Vietnam.

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Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kent Wiedemann said it was clear Washington's 'track two' deal was worthless.

'We have to accept that it is dead, so we are working on a less complicated hybrid,' he said after talks with Vietnamese officials.

'We've got to do something fast, to find some sort of new formula to accelerate the return of people from camps in the region, and the processing of anyone eligible for re-settlement.' New US proposals would soon be put to Hong Kong, Vietnam and other countries involved with the Comprehensive Plan of Action governing the return of boat people.

Mr Wiedemann's comments are the first indication that the US has abandoned track two following several rounds of talks with Vietnam.

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The original deal involved US-run screening centres within Vietnam to which any returnee who wanted to claim asylum in the US could apply.

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