MV AND ZOOMS Kissinger with Moro at airport walking across tarmac

SCU Bust in Quirinale Palace

MV Kissinger shaking hands with Leone and posing for photos (Moro on Leone's left)

SCU Palace guard

SV PAN&GV Kissinger and others into room (2 shots)

CU Placard ("Kissinger Boia") ZOOM OUT TO MV PAN other placards and banners

SV Placard ("Kissinger Assassino")

CU Banner and Poster (2 shots)

SV Sign "Daily American"

SV TILT DOWN & PAN showing damaged walls, rubble and filling cabinets in office (3 shots)

MV PAN FROM Glass on staircase TO rubble at foot of staircase.



Initials ET/1703



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Italian authorities put Rome under a avast security blanket on Monday (4 November), when Dr Henry Kisisnger, the United States' Secretary of State, flew into the city on a 24-hour visit to address the World Food Conference.

The police had sealed off access roads into Ciampino Airport, and about seven thousand extra policemen had been brought into the city in case of possible violence.

Dr Kissinger was met at the airport by the Acting Foreign Minister, Signor Aldo Moro, and the U.S. Ambassador, Mr John Volpe. the Secretary of State, who was accompanied by his wife Nancy, told reporters that the primary purpose of his visit was to address the World Food Conference, but he would also be having talks with Pope Paul and Italian leaders.

Italy has been without a government for a month, and is currently in the grip of fears of a coup d' etat, following disclosures of right-wing lots to spread panic and confusion in the country prier to installing an army-backed government.

The Police were afraid that, during Dr Kisinger's visit , he could be the target for both left-wing elements protesting alleged U.S. interference in Italian affairs, and of right-wing extremists seeking to exploit the situation for their own purposes.

The security clampdown did not prevent a powerful bomb exploding during the morning at the Rome office of the "Daily American" newspaper. Leaflets left outside branches of an American-Italian bank, which was firebombed on Saturday (2 November), indicated that the attacks were in protest against Dr Kissinger's visit.

Shortly after his arrival, Dr Kissinger had talks with President Giovanni Leone, at which Signor Moro and Mr Volpe were also present. The talks lasted forty-five minutes. A communique afterwards said that Dr Kissinger had assured the President of the United States' willingness to "lend Italy its maximum help towards economic recovery."