1.
LV ARMED SOLDIER STOPS BUS AT CHECKPOINT
0.03

2.
LV SOLDIER CLIMBS ON TO BUS ROOF
0.07

3.
SV ANOTHER SOLDIER SEARCHING PASSENGERS ON BUS
0.11

4.
LV SOLDIER SEARCHES OWNER AND CAR
0.14

5.
LV PAN..GOVERNMENT BUILDING
0.19

6.
SV ARMED SOLDIER CHECK MAN'S IDENTITY PAPERS NEAR GOVERNMENT BUILDING
0.23

7.
LV PAN..PEOPLE QUEUE AT BUILDING TO VOTE
0.23

8.
LV PAN..PEOPLE QUEUE AT ANOTHER BUILDING
0.33

9.
TV INT..PEOPLE QUEUE TO CAST VOTE
0.37

10.
SV VOTERS
0.41

11.
LV PAN..EXT..PEOPLE QUEUE OUTSIDE BUILDING, PAN UP TO FLAG FLYING ON ROOF
0.48



Initials TDH/S/WS/BB TDH/S/WS/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE PEOPLE OF SAN SALVADOR, CAPITAL OF EL SALVADOR, QUEUED AT POLLING STATIONS DECEMBER 17 TO CAST THEIR VOTES IN THE CENTRAL AMERICAN REPUBLIC'S FIRST UNCONTROLLED ELECTION IN THIRTY YEARS. THEIR VOTES, AND THOSE OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, WERE TO ELECT FIFTY-FOUR MEMBERS OF A CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY.

THOUSANDS OF INEXPERIENCED VOTERS WAITED FOR HOURS WHILE EQUALLY INEXPERIENCED OFFICIALS STRUGGLED TO SPEED THE ELECTORAL PROCESS. TROOPS SEARCHED VEHICLES AND PASSENGERS ENTERING THE CITY, AND SEARCHED THEM FOR WEAPONS. THEIR VIGILANCE, THOUGH UNDERSTANDABLE, WAS UNNECESSARY. THE ELECTIONS PASSED OFF WITHOUT VIOLENCE.

WHEN ELECTED, THE ASSEMBLY WILL DESIGNATE A PROVISIONAL PRESIDENT AND CONFIRM DECREES ISSUED BY THE TWO JUNTAS THAT HAVE RULED EL SALVADOR SUCCESSIVELY SINCE OCTOBER 1960.

LATEST RETURNS INDICATE A TRIUMPH FOR THE GOVERNMENT-BACKED NATIONAL CONCILIATION PARTY, WHO PLEDGED TO RETAIN A SERIES OF AGRARIAN AND TAX REFORMS. THEY WERE OPPOSED BY THE UNITED DEMOCRATIC PARTY, THE CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AND THE COMMUNISTS. THE REFORMS AT ISSUE WERE INSTITUTED TO MEET REQUIREMENTS OF THE "ALLIANCE FOR PROGRESS", THE UNITED STATES AIR PROGRAMME FOR LATIN AMERICA.