1.
GV & CU Crowds and troops in stadium
0.14

2.
GV Children dancing and training
0.26

3.
CU Neto looking on
0.32

4.
SV & MV Children and youths marching as Neto looks on (6 shots)
1.22


NETO: "And this also gives us the (INDISTINCT) that on the eleventh of November we can have our independence even if there are some other of our (INDISTINCT) and South Africans are trying to (INDISTINCT) the balance to defend their interests."




Initials BB/2335


This film is serviced with an extract from an interview with Signor Neto, a transcript of which appears below

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Portuguese High Commissioner in Angola is trying to resurrect a transitional government in the country to which Portugal can hand-over power when the African territory becomes independent on 11 November.

On Saturday (4 October) Admiral Leonel Cardoso named members of the three Angolan Liberation movements as part of the transitional government. They are Jose N'Dele of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), John Eduardo of the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA) and Lopo de Nascimento of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA). All three were named co-premiers in a transitional cabinet originally set up to prepare for independence.

However that was prior to fighting breaking out between the three groups. In August Portugal resumed administrative control of the territory because the government in which the three groups shared power with Portugal, was not functioning because of fighting.

As Luanda, the Angolan capital, is presently held by the MPLA and the representatives from the other two movements are not there, observers believe there is little chance of the new transitional government functioning on a coalition basis until the three groups can overcome their differences.

A reconciliation of the three groups seems faint, but all last week the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) held talks in Uganda in a bid to bring the three warring factions together to work for the independence of Angola and to take part in a coalition government. As a result of the talks the OAU decided to send a Reconciliation Commission to Angola later this week to help in the reconciliation efforts. The three groups have all agreed to meet the OAU Reconciliation Commission in the areas of Angola which they control.

The MPLA claims to hold 12 out of the 16 districts including the capital, Luanda, but on Sunday (5 October) the FNLA denied this claim and says its forces now hold Ucua, the last northern stronghold of MPLA, giving it control of all territory north of Luanda. The city of Nova Lisboa is currently held by UNITA, the weakest group of the three.

On Saturday (4 October) President of the MPLA, Antonio Neto, held a rally in Luanda to celebrate his 53rd birthday. President Neto told his supporters at the rally that independence would be handed to the MPLA on 11 November and that all the independence ceremonies and formalities would be presided over and directed by the MPLA.

SYNOPSIS: With the eleventh of November -- the date set for Angola's independence--fast drawing near, there's no sign of the three Angolan Liberation movements becoming reconciled to form a coalition government to rule the country. In the MPLA-held capital of Luanda last Saturday there was a colourful rally to mark the fifty-third birthday of MPLA President Antonio Neto.

President Neto's been the leader of the MPLA since nineteen sixty-two and has been instrumental in making the movement the strongest group in the struggle for independence in Angola. The MPLA claims it now holds twelve of the sixteen districts in Angola but the rival group FNLA disputes this claim. FNLA says that with its victories in the last week it now holds all territory north of Luanda.

Later this week a Reconciliation Commission from the Organisation of African Unity is expected to visit Angola to speak with the leaders of the MPLA, the FNLA and UNITA in the territories they hold to try to get them to form a coalition government in preparation for independence. At Saturday's rally President Neto spoke townsmen about the power struggle.