1.
CU SIGN FOURON-LE COMTE
0.07

2.
MV SIGN LA LUTTE (THE FIGHT) CONTINUES
0.09

3.
SV DITTO ON SHOP FRONT
0.10

4.
CU SIGN RETOUR A LIEGE (RETURN TO LIEGE)
0.12

5.
SV DEMONSTRATORS WITH BANNERS ALONGSIDE BUS
0.20

6.
MV POLICE
0.22

7.
LV BUS AWAY TO LIEGE
0.29

8.
LV DEMONSTRATION IN LIEGE
0.36

9.
MV MARCHERS (2 SHOTS)
0.47

10.
MV REAR V. BAND MARCHING
0.50

11.
LV DEMONSTRATORS MARCHING
0.53

12.
MCU SPEAKER
0.57

13.
MV CROWD LISTEN
1.02



Initials RC/V/BHH/K



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE LEADERS OF FRENCH-SPEAKING AND FLEMISH-SPEAKING GROUPS IN BELGIUM SAID TONIGHT (TUESDAY) THAT THEY WOULD CONTINUE THEIR "LANGUAGE WAR" WITH RIVAL MARCHES THROUGH THE STREETS OF THE CAPITAL, BRUSSELS. THE DISPUTE CENTRES IN THE SO-CALLED LANGUAGE FRONTIER, WHICH SPLITS BELGIUM INTO THE FLEMISH-SPEAKING NORTH AND WEST (FLANDERS) AND THE FRENCH-SPEAKING SOUTH AND EAST (WALLONIA). IN A MOVE TO STRAIGHTEN THE LANGUAGE FRONTIER, VILLAGES FROM THE FOURONS DISTRICT - MAINLY FRENCH-SPEAKING -- WERE TRANSFERRED THREE YEARS AGO FROM LIEGE PROVINCE TO FLEMISH-ADMINISTERED LIMBURG.

TODAY, WALLOONS DEMONSTRATED IN LIEGE, DEMANDING A RETURN TO FRENCH-SPEAKING ADMINISTRATION.

WALLOON OFFICIALS SAID THAT BURGOMASTERS AND ALDERMEN FROM THE VILLAGES IN QUESTION WOULD HEAD FURTHER MASS DEMONSTRATIONS TODAY. FLEMISH GROUPS HAVE CALLED A COUNTER DEMONSTRATION.

PREVIOUS FLEMISH MARCHES ON BRUSSELS HAVE LED TO RIOTING. WALLOON AND FLEMISH FACTIONS BOTH WANT TO TURN BELGIUM INTO A FEDERATION, COMPOSED MAINLY OF THE STATES OF FLANDERS, WALLONIA AND, POSSIBLY, A BI-LINGUAL BRUSSELS AREA.

IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID A FINAL RIFT, THE BELGIUM GOVERNMENT PLANS TO GIVE THE FIVE-MILLION FLEMINGS AND FOUR-MILLION WALLOONS MORE AUTONOMY, WHILE PRESERVING THE NATIONAL STATE.

FLEMINGS CLAIM THAT THE FOURONS DISTRICT WAS ORIGINALLY FLEMISH AND THAT THE FRENCH TONGUE AND CULTURE WERE IMPOSED ON IT LATER. THE WALLOONS COUNTER-CLAIM THAT THE TRANSFER WAS AGAINST THE WILL OF THE POPULATION AND WAS A RESULT OF PRESSURE FROM THE FLEMISH MAJORITY OVER GOVERNMENT AND PARLIAMENT.

IN TODAY'S DEMONSTRATION, WALLOONS TRAVELLED TO LIEGE, CARRYING BANNERS PROTESTING AT THE TRANSFER TO A FLEMISH ADMINISTRATION. MARCHERS WERE ACCOMPANIED BY A BAND, AND LATER THE CROWD HEARD SPEECHES OF PROTEST FROM WALLOON LEADERS.