1.
GV STUDENTS MARCH THROUGH PRAGUE STREETS CARRYING PRO-CISAR BANNERS.
0.03

2.
SV STUDENTS.
0.11

3.
LV STUDENT CHALKS PRO-CISAR SLOGAN ON TRAM.
0.16

4.
SV PAN STUDENTS.
0.25

5.
SV PAN SLOGAN ON TRAM.
0.31

6.
GTV STUDENTS ASSEMBLE OUTSIDE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY - HEADQUARTERS.
0.38

7.
SV ENTRANCE TO HEADQUARTERS.
0.41

8.
CU & SV STUDENTS.
0.48

9.
GTV DITTO.
0.52

10.
GV PRAGUE CASTLE.
0.57

11.
GV & SV JOSEPH SMRKOVSKY ADDRESSES ASSEMBLY OF STUDENTS.
1.04

12.
CU PAN STUDENTS WITH PLACARDS.
1.08

13.
SV SMRKOVSKY PAN TO STUDENTS.
1.12

14.
MV STUDENTS.
1.15

15.
MV SMRKOVSKY.
1.16

16.
GV STUDENTS APPLAUD.
1.20

17.
RV SMRKOVSKY THROUGH CROWD.
1.26



Initials ERW/VS/BOB/FR



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: UNIVERSITY AND HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS IN PRAGUE, CZECHOSLOVAKIA YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) HELD THREE SEPARATE DEMONSTRATIONS IN SUPPORT OF THE FORMER EDUCATION MINISTER, CESTMIR CISAR, AS A CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY, TO REPLACE FORMER PRESIDENT ANTONIN NOVOTNY. WHILE THE STUDENTS MARCHED THROUGH THE CITY, THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY WAS MEETING IN THE SPANISH HALL OF PRAGUE CASTLE, WHERE THEY ACCEPTED MR CISAR'S WITHDRAWAL FROM THE CANDIDACY AND APPOINTED HIM CENTRAL COMMITTEE SECRETARY.

APPARENTLY UNAWARE OF MR CISAR'S WITHDRAWAL, THE TEENAGERS MARCHED THROUGH THE STREETS OF PRAGUE, SHOUTING PRO-CISAR SLOGANS, WAVING BANNERS AND EVEN CHALKING SLOGANS ON TRAMS. THE POLICE TOOK LITTLE NOTICE OF THE STUDENTS AND, ACCORDING TO A REPORTER, SIMPLY DIRECTED TRAFFIC AROUND THE MARCHERS.

THE LARGEST GROUP, NUMBERING ABOUT 5,000, MARCHED TO GORKI SQUARE WHERE THEY ASSEMBLED OUTSIDE THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, SHOUTING SLOGANS IN FAVOUR OF MR.CISAR.

A SMALLER, BUT NO LESS VOCAL GROUP AT ABOUT 200 STUDENTS MARCHED ON PRAGUE CASTLE, WHERE THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE WAS MEETING. ANOTHER CANDIDATE, JOSEPH SMRKOVSKY, WHO HAD ALSO WITHDRAWN IN FAVOUR OF GENERAL LUDVIK SVOBODA, THE COMMUNIST PARTY'S CHOICE, CAME OUT IN THE STEPS OF THE CASTLE AND ADDRESSED THE STUDENTS.

MR SMRKOVSKY WAS ELECTED BY THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE TO FILL THE POST ON THE PRESIDIUM HELD BY PRESIDENT NOVOTNY.