CEREMONY, DIGNITARIES, ZINSOU AND OTHER OFFICIALS ARRIVE AND VIEW MARCH PAST.




Initials LH/VS/AE/OS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: DAHOMEY'S NEW PRESIDENT, DR. EMILE DERLIN ZINSOU, YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) PRESIDED OVER CELEBRATIONS MARKING THE EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COUNTRY'S INDEPENDENCE FROM FRANCE.

ACCOMPANIED BY LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ALPHONSE ALLEY, DR. ZINSOU WATCHED A PARADE OF TROOPS, INCLUDING ARMOURED AND COMMAND UNITS.

DR. ZINSOU, WHO WAS CONFIRMED AS PRESIDENT LAST SUNDAY (JULY 28TH), LATER ANNOUNCED DAHOMEY'S FIRST CIVILIAN GOVERNMENT FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS.

HE HEADS THE GOVERNMENT AND THE INTERIOR AND DEFENCE MINISTRIES, WHILE DR. DACUDA BADAROU, FORMER MINISTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS, IS IN CHARGE OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.