1.
GV & SV BAND BEGIN MARCH PASSED (2 SHOTS)
0.14

2.
SV SENGHOR AND GENERAL DIALLO ON ROSTRUM.
0.17

3.
SV YOUTH MARCH PAST.
0.26

4.
MV SENGHOR AND DIALLO APPLAUD.
0.29

5.
GV & SV TROOPS MARCH PAST (3 SHOTS)
0.53

6.
CU SENGHOR.
0.59

7.
SV TROOPS IN ARMY VEHICLES DRIVE PAST (2 SHOTS)
1.22



Initials JDR/V/BOB/LAD



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: PRESIDENT LEOPOLD-SEDAR SENGHOR OF SENEGAL REVIEWED A BIG PARADE IN ST LOUIS LAST FRIDAY (4 APRIL) TO MARK THE NINTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF SENEGAL.

THE PARADE COMPRISED YOUNG PEOPLE FROM EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN AND AROUND ST LOUIS. THERE WERE ALSO REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ARMED FORCES OF SENEGAL, BOTH FOOT SOLDIERS AND MECHANISED UNITS.

WITH PRESIDENT SENGHOR ON THE REVIEWING STAND WAS GENERAL ALFRED DIALLO, THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF SENEGAL.

THE INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATIONS BEGAN ON WEDNESDAY THE 2ND OF APRIL WHEN PRESIDENT SENGHOR WENT TO DOLI TO INAUGURATE A NEW RANCH FOR 10,000 HEAD OF CATTLE. THE NEXT DAY, HE OPENED A ROAD LINKING THE SENEGAL RIVER DELTA WITH THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

THE CELEBRATIONS IN ST. LOUIS MARK A NEW DEPARTURE IN THE INDEPENDENCE COMMEMORATIONS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE OCCASION HAS BEEN OBSERVED BY A FESTIVAL OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL CITY DAKAR. BY A GOVERNMENT DECISION, THE ANNIVERSARY WILL BE CELEBRATED IN DAKAR AND A PROVINCIAL CENTRE IN ALTERNATE YEARS. ST LOUIS IS THE FIRST PROVINCIAL CENTRE TO HOLD AN INDEPENDENCE DAY PARADE. IT'S FITTING THAT THE TOWN SHOULD BE HONOURED IN THIS WAY, FOR ST LOUIS, WITH ITS HISTORY GOING BACK TO 1635, IS THE OLDEST SETTLEMENT IN SENEGAL.

AFTER THE PARADE IN ST LOUIS, PRESIDENT SENGHOR RETURNED TO DAKAR WHERE HE GAVE A BIG RECEPTION AT HIS OFFICIAL RESIDENCE.