1.
GV PAN Crowd gathered in square
0.10

2.
SV Troops keeping crowd back
0.21

3.
SV Drummers
0.34

4.
GV Crowd with banners and flags (2 shots)
0.50

5.
GV ZOOM INTO President Peron on balcony waving to crowd
0.58

6.
GV Crowd chanting
1.05

7.
LV Mrs. Peron speaking to crowd
1.10

8.
TV Troops struggling with crowd
1.17

9.
LV ZOOM OUT Mrs. Peron on balcony listening to crowd chanting
1.31

10.
(NIGHT) SV Interim President Luder leaving in car
1.36

11.
Mrs. Peron on car roof waving to crowd
1.57



Initials BB/0145 JA/PN/BB/0205



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Threats from left-wing Montoneros guerrillas that they would kill anyone attending President Maria Estela Person's first public appearance for a month proved false on Friday (17 October)
The rally which marked 'Loyalty Day ' -- when late President Juan Peron was brought triumphantly back into the city from jail on 17 October thirty years ago was an important test for the 44-year-old President, who is Juan Peron's second wife.

Senora Peron had been ill with nervous and digestive trouble for over a month. Rumours had been circulating the capital that her return would be only a short one but she looked tanned and well after her rest and her speech was received rapturously. Later the Peronist Party's second-in-command Senor Angel Robledo said Senora Peron's health was perfect and there was no doubt about her continuing.

Rank and file Peronists were worried the Montoneros' threat would reduce the numbers for the Loyalty Day rally and damage the party's morale after the continuing urban violence which has killed a further 169 Argentines during Mrs. Person's absence, but about 65,000 people were present.

Senora Peron's speech was simply a renewal of faith for the party. The President admitted Argentina was going through difficult times. She urged her supporters to unite against corruption and declared a war of extermination against the left-wing guerrillas. She told the crowd they must support the armed forces against the guerrillas, "Their dead are our dead", she declared."
Unprecedented security was in effect following the Montoneros' threat, police searched all those who entered the city centre. Ranks of soldiers with machine guns flanked the government building in the Plaza de Mayo.

Meanwhile Interim President Italo Luder who took over in Senora Peron's absence set up a National Security council to coordinate anti-guerrilla efforts and authorised the army to leave its barracks at will to give battle to the guerrillas.