 During the early stages of the coup , the rebels forced Tung to order his men to surrender . This meant that only the Presidential Guard was left to defend Gia Long Palace . At 16 : 45 , Tung was forced at gunpoint to talk to Diệm on the phone , telling the president that he had told his men to surrender . Minh ordered Nhung to execute the Diệm loyalist . Tung had failed to convince the president to surrender and still commanded the loyalty of his men . The other generals had little sympathy , since the special forces commander had disguised his men in army uniforms and framed the generals for the pagoda raids . The generals were aware of the threat Tung posed ; they had discussed his elimination during their planning , having contemplated waging an offensive against his special forces . 
