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GV Troops lined up outside University building
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SV INTERIOR Assad enters to applause and sits
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SV AND LV Assad and other listen as children sing (4 shots)
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SV Audience applaud on rostrum
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LV AND SV Assad speaking in Arabic (4 shots)
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Initials CL/1739 CL/1749



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: President Hafez al Assad of Syria on Saturday (8 March) offered to create a united political and military command with the Palestine Commandos and warned of another war if Israel continued to occupy Arab land.

President Assad dealt these twin blows to middle east peace hopes at a rally in Damascus University to mark the 12th anniversary of the Baath Party coming into power in Syria.

His remarks came on the eve of the arrival of the United States Secretary of State, Dr. Henry Kissinger, in the capital on his latest Middle East peace trip.

The Syrian leader accused the United States of continuing to supply Israel with weapons so it could keep control of occupied territory.

President Assad declared: "I am ready to implement any action in support of the Palestinian struggle, and even to have a joint Syrian-Palestinian political leadership and a joint Syrian-Palestinian military leadership if that meets the needs of the Palestinian struggle and Palestinian national unity."
Referring to Israel, he added: "The nation which found its way to the October War could find its way to another October war."