HANOI, June 7 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in the official Vietnamese press on Thursday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

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VIETNAM NEWS

-- About a third of Vietnam's HIV/AIDS patients has been treated with anti-retroviral drugs, the Health Ministry said.

-- Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung urged the government to step up efforts to achieve 8.5 percent economic growth this year.

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NHAN DAN

-- Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung asked China Railway Corporation chairman Shi Dahua to help Vietnam build a light elevated railway from central Hanoi to Ha Dong on the outskirts.

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QUAN DOI NHAN DAN

-- The state weather forecast centre warned of flash floods in the northern Red River Delta and Central Highlands in June.

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LAO DONG

-- Three people suspected to be infected with bird flu have been admitted to the National Institute for Clinical Research and Tropical Diseases, institute director Nguyen Duc Hien said.

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TUOI TRE

-- The stealing of undersea optic telecoms cables off the southern coast has caused losses of more than $5.8 million, Posts and Telecoms Ministry investigators said.

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THANH NIEN

-- Two Vietnamese pilot trainers died after their military aircraft crashed into the sea about two km off the central province of Ninh Thuan.

-- Diego Maradona has postponed his trip to Vietnam due this month to between August 3-5 as he is still recovering, organisers of the trip said.

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THOI BAO KINH TE VIETNAM

-- Vietnam will strive to achieve GDP growth of 9 percent in the second half of this year so the annual growth could reach 8.5 percent, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told a cabinet meeting.

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