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GV Demonstrators with banners and placards marching along street (2 shots)
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GV Banners
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SCU Papatheodorou speaks to demonstrators from rostrum PAN TO crowd chanting
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GV Crown chanting
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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Thousands of demonstrators gathered in central Athens on Wednesday night (26 February) demanding exemplary punishment for Army officers found plotting against the Government. The demonstrators -- mostly students and young people -- wanted a complete purge of pro-junta elements from the armed forces and the resignation of Defence Minister Evanghelos Averoff.

About 100 officers were rounded up on Monday and Tuesday and more arrests were expected to follow as the Greek Government continued to probe the extent of the conspiracy among officers remaining loyal to the military junta which relinquished power last July.

The crowds who gathered in Athens' Municipal Square were addressed by the Chairman of the Municipal Council Mr. Papatheodorou who demanded severe punishment for the plotters.