1.
GTV CROWD GATHERED IN SQUARE
0.04

2.
LV CROWD WITH BANNERS
0.08

3.
GV CROWD WITH BANNERS
0.12

4.
SV PEOPLE WITH BANNERS
0.18

5.
SV SPEAKER ON PLATFORM
0.20

6.
GTV PAN.. OF MASS CROWD
0.25

7.
TV CROWD
0.29

8.
GTV CROWD WITH BANNERS
0.33

9.
CU SPEAKER
0.36

10.
SV PEOPLE CLAPPING
0.41

11.
LV PEOPLE WALKING
0.45

12.
GTV PEOPLE WALKING
0.49

13.
SV MARCHERS IN STREET
0.57

14.
SV PEOPLE WALKING
1.02

15.
LV MARCHERS TOWARDS
1.06

16.
BV MARCHERS AWAY
1.11

17.
SV & LV MARCHERS TOWARDS STREET
1.18



Initials JM/S/JH/PC



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: NANTES - PRINCIPAL TOWN OF SOUTH BRITTANY: AND A MASSIVE DEMONSTRATION YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY) BY 70,000 PEOPLE, MANY UNEMPLOYED, AGAINST LAY-OFFS IN THIS DEPRESSION-HIT PART OF FRANCE.

CROWDS BEGAN TO GATHER AFTER LUNCH, WHEN SHOPS AND OFFICES REMAINED SHUT. SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED, AND HUNDREDS OF TRADESMEN AND FARMERS JOINED THOUSANDS OF WORKERS WHO FILED INTO THE TOWN'S MAIN SQUARE. THEY LISTENED TO SPEECHES BY TRADE UNION LEADERS AND THEN MARCHED THROUGH THE STREETS IN A MASSIVE PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION. THE CROWD WAS SWOLLEN BY SOME 10,000 MEN FROM THE SHIPYARDS AT NEARBY ST. NAZAIRE, WHO CAME IN BUSES, TRUCKS AND CARS.

THE DEMONSTRATION WAS AGAINST THE LAY-OFFS IN THE SHIPYARDS AND FOUNDRIES OF THE LOIRE ATLANTIQUE DEPARTMENT. ABOUT 1,500 WORKERS ARE UNEMPLOYED IN ST. NAZAIRE ALONE, AND MANY MORE ARE FEARED AS SHIP BUILDING ORDERS CONTINUE TO DECLINE.