DEMONSTRATORS MARCHING; DESERTED BUSINESS PREMISES; FRENCH EMBASSY; POLICE PROTECTING EMBASSY; CROWD PAST; DODAN BARRACKS -- NATURAL SOUND THROUGHOUT.




Initials DHC/VS/CCT/BB



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Background: MORE THAN 2,000 PEOPLE MARCHED ON THE FRENCH EMBASSY IN LAGOS, THE FEDERAL NIGERIAN CAPITAL, YESTERDAY (MONDAY) TO PROTEST AGAINST FRANCE'S SUPPORT FOR BIAFRA, THE BREAKAWAY EASTERN REGION. THE LEADERS OF THE MARCH -- ORGANISED BY THE 50,000 STRONG LAGOS MERCHANDISE TRADERS ASSOCIATION -- WERE ALLOWED TO PASS THROUGH A POLICE CORDON TO PRESENT A PROTEST NOTE AT THE EMBASSY.

THE DEMONSTRATORS ALSO DELIVERED A NOTE AT LAGOS' DODAN BARRACKS, ADDRESSED TO THE COUNTRY'S HEAD OF STATE, MAJOR GENERAL YAKUBU GOWON, WHICH EXPRESSED ASTONISHMENT AT THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT'S "INVOLVEMENT IN THE NIGERIAN CRISIS AND SUPPORT FOR OJUKWU'S REBELLION".

TRADESMEN LOCKED UP THEIR SHOPS TO TAKE PART IN THE PROTEST, WHICH WAS THE LATEST IN A SERIES OF ANTI-FRENCH DEMONSTRATIONS IN LAGOS SINCE PRESIDENT DE GAULLE SPOKE LAST WEEK IN FAVOUR OF BIAFRA'S RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION
THE DEMONSTRATORS YESTERDAY CARRIED PLACARDS CALLING ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SEIZE FRENCH ASSETS IN NIGERIA IF THE SUPPORT FOR BIAFRA CONTINUED.