Tour Agency Director, Employees Killed

Gunmen ambushed and killed the head of a French tour agency and a number of his Laotian employees on a road leading to Laos’ ancient capital, a major tourist site.

Claude Vincent, 56, founder and director of Sodetour, died in the attack Tuesday as he traveled between the northern town of Kasi and the old capital, Luang Prabang. Three or four of his Laotian employees were killed and at least two other Laotians were badly wounded.

French Embassy officials said it was unclear who staged the attack. The van was ransacked, suggesting the motive may have been robbery.

The rugged area is home to ethnic tribesmen. Attacks along the route are believed to be common, though few are reported in Laos’ tightly controlled state press.

Vincent also ran a French restaurant in Vientiane, the Laotian capital.