1.
CU Tableaux(4 shots)
0.11

2.
CU Man in fancy makeup
0.14

3.
SV Man weeping over coffin
0.16

4.
CU Man carrying political poster
0.21

5.
GV Procession
0.26

6.
SVs Carnival procession(5 shots)
0.53

7.
SCU Mintoff on fleet
1.01

8.
SVs Procession
1.12



Initials SGM/1726 SGM/1717



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Tens of thousands of people in Valetta, Malta on Sunday either watched or took part in a carnival parade lasting five hours, celebrating the recent election victory of the Malta Labour party and new Prime Minister Mr Dom Mintoff.

U.S. and NATO officials are still acutely embarrassed amid signs of a growing row between the Atlantic Alliance and Mr Mintoff's new government.

The row was sparked off by Mr Mintoff's reported expulsion last week of Admiral Gino Birindelli, NATO's naval commander in the Mediterranean. The Admiral has disappeared from public view, apparently somewhere in Italy.

Mr Mintoff is also reported to have blocked a forthcoming visit to Malta by the U.S. sixth fleet, and to be actively seeking better terms for the continuance of the long-standing British military presence on the island.

The current defence and aid treaty with Britain, by which Malta receives GBP5 million in aid annually in return for stationing British forces, still has three years to run. Mr Mintoff was expected to present his new terms for continuing the treaty to the British High Commissioner Sir Duncan Watson today (28 June).