1.
SV Crowd applauds as Karamanlis arrives and mounts stand (3 shots)
0.15

2.
SV Flags
0.16

3.
SV Karamanlis standing with officials (LEFT)
0.19

4.
SV Tanks including AMX-30 past
0.35

5.
SV Missiles including "Honest John" and "Nike" (3 shots)
0.50

6.
CU President Stassinopoulos
0.53

7.
SV Phantom jets over
0.58

8.
SV Flags of Greek regiments paraded
1.01

9.
CU Infantry past
1.09

10.
SV Special units march past
1.17

11.
CU AND SV Father and child watch as frogmen march past followed by naval contingent (3 shots)
1.28

12.
GV Parade with cadets in foreground
1.34



Initials NG/1700 NG/1715



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The military might displayed in past years was missing on Tuesday (March 25) when the Greek armed forces paraded through Athens to mark the 154th anniversary of the war of independence against the old Ottoman empire. A squadron of Phantom jets made a demonstration flight for the first time, but on the ground the number of military personnel taking part was severely reduced. The majority of Greek troops are now concentrated in the north and east as the threat with Turkey over Cyprus and the Aegean sea oil rights continues.

The parade also marked the first time in eight years that the Greeks had celebrated the anniversary of the 1821 war of independence under the conditions of democratic legality.

The Prime Minister, Mr. Karamanlis, was applauded as he arrived for the ceremony. The American and British Ambassadors and the Turkish Charge d'Affaires were booed by youths when they arrived.

Mr. Karamanlis, in a message to mark the day said that the celebrations would take place in a difficult but hopeful time. He said national unity was of extreme importance at such a time.