1.
GV & SV "Mimika" ship (2 shots)
0.06

2.
SV Released prisoners at ship rail.
0.10

3.
SV "Mimika" with relatives in F/G on quay.
0.13

4.
MV Relatives of prisoners wave from quayside (2 shots)
0.19

5.
MV Relatives greet prisoners (2 shots)
0.30

6.
MV Man runs down gangplank with arms outstretched and is greeted
0.37

7.
SV Relatives and prisoners (3 shots)
0.51



Initials CG/PW/BB CG/OW/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A group of about 130 political prisoners detained by the Greek government since the army coup in April 1967 arrived in Athens today (Wednesday) following their release.

They sailed into Pireaus Harbour aboard a Greek coaster "Mimika" while delighted relatives and friends lined and quayside to greet them.

On August 10 a government announcement disclosed that 500 of the 1,000 and more political prisoners held on various Greek islands would be set free. About 300 have already been set free, and today's batch leaves about 70 still in captivity. The government has assured relatives that these will be released early next week.

Most of the detainees are communists. The Greek government plant to release them was announced by Under-Secretary of Information, Mr. George Georgalas, a former leading communist who joined the cabinet of premier Papadopoulos in June.

Mr Georgalas told a recent press conference that the government which emerged from the revolution was strong enough to be able to release this large number of communist prisoners.