1.
LV CARS PASS WRECKED SHOP
0.05

2.
SV PAN ROW OF WRECKED SHOP FRONTS
0.16

3.
SV WRECKED BUILDING
0.23

4.
SV PAN OVER WRECKED BUILDING
0.40

5.
CU PAN WRECKAGE
0.46

6.
SV DITTO
0.53

7.
SV MORE WRECKAGE
1.00



Initials IM/S/AW/FW



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: MORTAR AND MACHINEGUN FIRE AND 200 VIOLENT EXPLOSIONS ROCKED A TWENTY MILE AREA OF ALGIERS, MAR 5. THE BARRAGE STARTED AT DAWN AND CONTINUED FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS IN THE LARGEST EVER DEMONSTRATION OF TERROR BYU THE OAS - SECRET ARMY ORGANIZATION. THE MAIN AREA OF ATTACK WAS IN THE RUE RODIGO, WHICH BOARDERS ON THE CASBAH. MOST OF THE DAMAGE WAS TO SMALL MOSLEM OWNED SHOPS.

STOCKS OF SHOES, CLOTHES, GROCERIES AND OTHER GOODS WERE THROWN INTO THE STREETS BY THE BLAST. ALTHOUGH MATERIAL DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE THERE WAS NO LOSS OF LIFE. ONLY ABOUT TWENTY PEOPLE WERE WOUNDED NONE SERIOUSLY. MOST OF THE SHOP OWNERS LIVE IN THE SUBURBS AND HAD NOT LEFT FOR THEIR SHOPS WHEN THE BOMBS WENT OFF.

APART FROM WANTING TO WRECK THE FRANCO-ALGERIAN PEACE TALKS ANOTHER REASON BEHIND THE MOUNTING WAVE OF TERRORISM IS THAT THE OAS WANT TO DRIVE THE MIDDLE-CLASS MOSLEM OUT OF THE CITY SO THEY CAN TAKE OVER MOSLEM PROPERTY. THE RICH MOSLEMS OF ORAN AND ALGIERS HAVE ALREADY LEFT THE CITIES FOR THEIR COUNTRY ESTATES.

IN MOST PARTS OF ALGIERS THE POLICE WENT INTO ACTION QUICKLY AND SET UP ROAD BLOCKS TO STOP AND EXAMINE THE EARLY MORNING TRAFFIC. AT ONE POINT 18 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED WHEN THEY TRIED TO CRASH THROUGH A ROADBLOCK IN THREE TRUCKS. THE POLICE OPENED FIRE AND BROUGHT THE TRUCKS TO A HALT. THE 18 MEN WERE THREE TEAMS OF PLASTIC BOMBERS. ALL THEIR EQUIPMENT WAS FOUND IN THE VEHICLES.

AN ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE ALGERIAN REBEL "GOVERNMENT" IN TUNIS, MAR 5, STATED THAT THE CEASE-FIRE NEGOTIATIONS WITH FRANCE WILL BE RESUMED AT EVIAN-LES-BAINS ON THE SWISS BORDER ON MAR 6. AN ALGERIAN SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THERE WERE STILL SEVERAL IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO BE SETTLED WITH FRANCE.