NEWSMEN; GOVERNMENT MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS; POLICE WITH WALKIE-TALKIE SETS; BOEYNANTS INTERVIEWED IN CROWD; NEWSMEN WAIT.




Initials GHB/VS/AE/BB



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Background: THE FATE OF BELGIUM'S COALITION GOVERNMENT WAS TONIGHT (TUESDAY) TIED TO THE FUTURE OF THE 500-YEAR OLD CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF LOUVAIN AFTER A DAY OF STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

THE LANGUAGE ROW, WHICH THREATENS TO TOPPLE THE TWO-YEAR OLD GOVERNMENT OF PRIME MINISTER PAUL VANDEN BOEYNANTS, IS CENTRED ON DEMANDS BY FLEMISH PROFESSORS AND STUDENTS THAT THE UNIVERSITY SHOULD ABANDON TUITION IN FRENCH.

TENSION ROSE THROUGHOUT BILINGUAL BELGIUM AS THOUSANDS OF SLOGAN-CHANTING STUDENTS DEMONSTRATED IN THE STREETS OF BRUSSELS AND MAJOR FLEMISH-SUPPORTING TOWNS IN SUPPORT OF THE BAN.

STEEL-HELMETED POLICE GUARDED THE BARRED GATES BEHIND WHICH PARLIAMENT WAS DEBATING THE ISSUE.

THE LIFE OF THE GOVERNMENT DEPENDED ON LAST-MINUTE EFFORTS BY THE PRIME MINISTER TO FIND A COMPROMISE SOLUTION ACCEPTABLE TO ALL SECTIONS OF HIS CABINET.

POLITICAL OBSERVERS SAID THAT IF THE FLEMISH WING OF THE SOCIAL CHRISTIAN PARTY -- THE BIGGEST OF THE COALITION PARTNERS -- WITHDREW THEIR SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CERTAINLY FALL.