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SV PAN Amin and Lagu arrive for opening ceremony.
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SV Military band
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SV Amin reviewing honour guard.
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GV Amin and Lagu cut ribbon opening border (2 shots)
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Sv Amin and Lagu walk to Sudanese side of border and inspect guard of honour. (2 shots)
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AMIN AND LAGU ARRIVING FOR CEREMONY ON UGANDA SIDE OF BORDER: AMIN REVIEWING HONOUR GUARD: AMIN AND LAGU CUT TAPE: AMIN AND LAGU INSPECT ON HONOUR GUARD ON SUDANESE SIDE OF BORDER.




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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: President Idi Amin has re-opened Uganda's border with Sudan, closed for the past three years because of the rebellion in the southern provinces of Sudan. The re-opening ceremonies took place last Thursday (11 May) near the Onyama River, 280 miles (about 450 kilometres) north of Kampala and at the Sudanese town of Nimule.

At the ceremony on the Uganda side of the border, General Amin cut a white tape and said: "With the blessing of God and on behalf of the government and people of Uganda, I declare this border open."
The President then accompanied Sudan's Vice-President Abel Alier to the Sudanese side of the border, where a second tape was cut.

The ceremony was witnessed by Major General Joseph Lagu -- commander of the Southern Sudanese Liberation Army, also known as the Anyanya -- who two months ago ratified a peace agreement with the Sudanese government, ending the country's 17-year old civil war.

The border was closed by Uganda in May 1969 after alleged incursions by Sudanese troops pursuing Anyanya guerrillas. During the long period of fighting, many southern Sudanese have been living as refugees on the Uganda side of the border.

SYNOPSIS: President Idi Amin arrived at the Onyama River last Thursday to re-open Uganda's border with Sudan, which had been closed because of the rebellion in the southern provinces of Sudan.

Uganda sealed off the frontier in May, 1969 following alleged incursions across the border by Sudanese troops chasing the rebel forces of Major General Joseph Lagu, commander of the Southern Sudanese Liberation Army. The 17-year old rebellion ended tow months ago when an agreement was reached in Addis Ababa.

At the ceremony on the Uganda side of the border, President Amin, accompanied by General Lagu, cut a white tape, and said: "With the blessing of God and on behalf of the government and people of Uganda, I declare this border open."
Then, President Amin, along with General Lagu and Sudan' Vice-President Abel Alier, crossed to the Sudanese side of the borde, where a second ribbon-cutting ceremony took place. During the long course of the Sudanese civil war, thousands of Southern Sudanese, who are mainly African, fled across the border into Uganda to escape the fighting. With the border re-open, it's hoped the repatriation of the refugees will be made easier.