Vietnam riots: PM texts citizens to maintain peace

HANOI, Vietnam — Vietnam’s prime minister has sent a text message to millions of Vietnamese urging them to boost their patriotism to “defend the fatherland’s sacred sovereignty” but not to engage in violence. [caption id=“attachment_1526551” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Protesters raising anti-China slogans. Reuters[/caption] The message that was sent late Thursday and into Friday to subscribers of the country’s cell phone operators didn’t directly condemn the riots that have broken out this week following China’s decision to deploy an oil rig in disputed waters off Vietnam on May 1. Vietnamese patrol ships sent to the rig are currently locked in a standoff with Chinese ships guarding it. AP