1.
MV Sign Abomey
0.05

2.
MLV Presidential Council arrives
0.08

3.
MV Sign Vive le Conseil Presidentiel
0.10

4.
LV Maga taking salute (3 shots)
0.24

5.
MLV Council inspects guard
0.30

6.
MLV Council laying wreaths at memorial
0.46

7.
CU Memorial
0.50

8.
MV Crowd
0.54

9.
MCU Maga shaking hands with priests
1.00

10.
MV Crowd
1.02

11.
MV Maga shake hands dignitaries
1.26

12.
LV Crowd
1.28

13.
MCU Maga decorates chief's
1.34

14.
MV Crowd
1.38

15.
MV Maga decorates another
1.47

16.
MV Local dancers (2 shots)
2.10



Initials BB/BBH/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: As part of Dahomey's Tenth Anniversary of Independence celebrations, the three-member Presidential Council, headed by its Chairman, President Hubert Maga, recently visited the ancient royal capital of Abomey.

President Maga and the other two Council members, Sourou Migan Apithy and Justin Ahomadegbe, were welcomed by a big crowd. A guard of honour was provided by a large detachment of the Dahomey Army.

After reviewing the Guard of Honour, the Presidential Council paid tribute to Abomey's war dead when they laid wreaths on the War Memorial
Later they were officially greeted by local dignitaries, including members of the clergy and tribal chiefs.

During the visit, President Maga decorated local chiefs and other leading citizens for their services to the new regime of the Republic.

The Presidential Council took over the leadership of the country last May from a military directorate which ousted President Zinsou in December, 1969.

In order to underline the necessity for more efficient development and to overcome the country's many political differences, President Maga and his colleagues appealed to the people of Abomey for their full co-operation - a co-operation which would benefit the entire nation.