¡¡  HANOI, April 7 (Xinhuanet) -- The Vietnamese government has just placed a temporary halt to the signing of any new contracts on exporting raw solid minerals, excluding special cases.

    Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai ordered the halt to approving and granting licenses relating to the mining of gold, silver, gemstone and metals, except ores and metals at dumping grounds and mines waiting for sale, Vietnam News Agency reported Thursday.

    Exports of minerals under legal contracts will be allowed to continue while licenses issued improperly will be withdrawn, he said, noting that organizations and individuals who violate the regulations of granting mining licenses will be severely punished.

    Khai also instructed People's Committees at provincial and municipal levels and relevant ministries to monitor the exploitation, processing and trading of minerals in their localities.

    Since 1955, Vietnam has discovered more than 5,000 mines of mineral ores, including those important to industries such as oil,coal, apatite, iron, copper, aluminum, lead and zinc.

    Vietnam, which often exports a small amount of gemstones and precious metals, earned 10 million US dollars from exporting the products in March, raising the total earned in the first quarter to 26 million dollars, the country's General Statistics Office said. Enditem