1.
CU Newspaper headline on France's condition
0.05

2.
GV EL Padro Palace with bell chiming
0.19

3.
SV INT Bell-ringer ringing bell in church
0.26

4.
SV Congregation receiving Holy Communion
0.38

5.
CU Burning candles
0.45

6.
CU Congregation saying the rosary
0.53

7.
CU ZOOM OUT ON Rosary beads and priest holding rosary (2 shots)
1.04

8.
SV Woman leads congregation PAN TO statue of Virgin Mary and child Jesus
1.15

9.
SV INT Prime Minister Navarro sitting with President of Cortez, Val Carcel (2 shots) PAN TO newsmen
1.30

10.
CU PAN Ministers seated
1.36

11.
CU Bust of General Franco
1.41

12.
TV Prime Minister and party leaving building. Prime Minister shakes hands with Jose Solis Riuz surrounded by newsmen and photographers
1.57



Initials BB/2340 JA/AW/BB/0030.1630/2040



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The condition of the Spanish leader, General Fransisco Franco, improved recently but there appears little chance that the 82 year old Chief of State can recover from his present serious heart condition.

A medical bulletin issued on Thursday (30 October) said the General's condition had improved but that the Spanish leader was still "in a grave condition".

It is now ten days since General Franco suffered the first of a series of heart attacks.

On Wednesday night (29 October) doctors at the General's bedside reported that the aged leader "had rallied" when told that his old civil war comrades from the right wing Falange Party were celebrating the anniversary of the founding of the party in 1933. The doctors said the General had muttered weakly to members of his family.

In a church a few yards from the Palace where General Franco lies a priest led scores of local villagers in prayers for the recovery of the Spanish leader.

Several women wept as the mass was said for General Franco and the scene was repeated in hundreds of churches throughout Spain.