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GV demonstrators with placards walking down street, zoom to placard.
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GTV Demonstrators marching
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SV President Tombalbaye leads demonstration through the streets (2 shots)
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SCU President Tombalbaye and ministers.
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SV soldiers listening to speeches and crowd.
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SCU President Tombalbaye speaking to the crowd.
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GV Pan of crowd cheering and waving arms.
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Initials AE/17.05 AE/17.21



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A massive demonstration was staged in Fort-Lamy, the capital of Chad on Saturday (July 7th) in protest at alleged French interference in the country's internal affairs.

President Francois Tombalbaye, surrounded by his Ministers and top aides, led the demonstrators on a six-mile (10 kms) march through the streets from the Place de L'Independence to his residence. Estimates of the number of demonstrators were as high as 400,000.

In a brief speech at the Place de L'Independence, President Tombalbaye said the aim of the demonstration was "to show the world that Chad will no longer tolerate French involvement in its internal affairs."
The crowd's anger was focused on M. Jacques Foccart, a senior French official accused by Chad of plotting to overthrow its government. M. Foccart is known locally as Dopele. Some of the placards carried in the demonstration rad "Dopele to the stake".

The official Chad news agency recently denounced French foreign policy in Africa and quoted M. Foccart ad telling friends he would try to save Chard in December. He is reported to have added that President Tombalbaye's government would not survive beyond then.

M. Foccart is Secretary-General of the French presidency with special responsibility for African and Malagasy affairs.