1.
GV: Istanbul harbour and golden horn
0.05

2.
GV: blue mosque PULL BACK TO traffic in street including bus. (2 shots)
0.24

3.
SV: Bus arriving at stop and people getting on and off.
0.35

4.
SV: new bus signs being put up (2 shots)
0.46

5.
GV PAN: cars queueing at petrol station.
0.56

6.
GV: foreign cars at petrol station. (3 shots)
1.09

7.
CU: petrol pump showing numbers moving. (2 shots)
1.15

8.
GV: Foreign car being pushed into petrol station.
1.18

9.
CU: sing telling foreigners about petrol coupons
1.22

10.
SV AND CU: foreigners paying for petrol and signing coupons. (3 shots)
1.36

11.
GV: cars queuing for petrol.
1.41

12.
SV: car being filled as attendant signs ration card.
1.57

13.
GV PAN FROM: petrol station TO queue along road.
2.08



Initials RH/



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: In Turkey, petrol rationing has been introduced in the largest city, Istanbul, and for the past week motorists have been adjusting to a new way of life.

SYNOPSIS: Istanbul is the only place in Turkey being rationed -- no limits apply in other regions. From Monday last week (2 July) Istanbul motorists had to register for coupons in order to obtain petrol and are generally being limited to a quota of eighty litres (21 gallons) per month. Taxi drivers and foreign residents have higher allocations.

To compensate for the restrictions on private motoring, bus services have been increased and special stops and bus lanes introduced on key routes through the city.

Istanbul is the first European city to attempt a petrol economy drive in the form of rationing. To obtain their coupons, motorists have to produce insurance certificates and safety inspection stamps, and, as a result many vehicles are no longer being driven. Visnews correspondent, Don Dickson, reports a dramatic improvement in Istanbul's traffic problems.

Foreign tourists do not need ration cards, but can only but petrol at two specially reserved filling stations in istanbul. The price of petrol has trebled in Turkey during the past nine months and since the fuel crisis developed there have been widespread reports of hoarding. During the hot summer months this constitutes a serious safety hazard.

Retailers have reported that many car owners have been re-selling their monthly allowance at hugely inflated prices. In a raid last week the authorities seized over five hundred litres (110 gallons) of diesel fuel and fire officials have warned that keeping fuel is more dangerous than hoarding gunpowder.

For some time the Turkish government has been grappling with severe balance of payment problems. The country imports eighty per cent of its fuel requirements.