PRESS DIGEST - Vietnam newspapers - December 14

HANOI, Dec 14 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in the official Vietnamese press on Friday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

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VIETNAM NEWS

-- Eight people convicted for smuggling heroin received death sentences at the Hanoi People's Court, eight were jailed for life and 10 were given jail terms of between 15 and 20 years.

-- The Agriculture Ministry continued to petition the government for a reduction of import taxes on animal feed due to escalating world prices, a ministry official said.

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QUAN DOI NHAN DAN

-- Vietnam's northern region is facing a risk of forest fires in the absence of rain over the past few months, when sunny weather dried up rivers and streams, a state forecaster said.

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