1.
LV Entrance to RAF Luqa station
0.06

2.
CU Sign "Petroleum Spirit, Highly Inflammable"
0.10

3.
LV Fuel pipes from underground tanks
0.14

4.
CU Fuel pipes
0.21

5.
LV Petrol bowsers lined up
0.27

6.
LV Canberra bombers
0.32

7.
LV PAN..of airfield ending on control tower
0.46



Initials ES. 0115 ES 0130



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Malta's ban on sales of duty-free fuel to foreign forces on the island is not expected to have an immediate effect on British Royal Air Force operations from the island's Luqa air base, according to British Defence Ministry spokesmen.

There are understood to be adequate reserves for British aircraft, whose main task is to keep track of Soviet naval movements in the Mediterranean.

The RAF, however, in the long term may be the service most affected by the Maltese Government's ban, imposed on Tuesday, by which oil firms may sell fuel to the British forces only at the full commercial price.

In imposing the ban Mr. Dom Mintoff the Maltese Prime Minister is following the example of his predecessor Dr. George Borg Olivier, who cut off duty-free supplies in 1967 as part of his campaign to stop the run-down of British forces on the island, stopping flying from Luqa for several days. The duty-free supplies were later renewed.

SYNOPSIS: Malta's ban on sales of duty-free fuel to foreign forces on the island is not expected to have an immediate effect on British operations from the Luga air base, according to British Ministry of Defense spokesmen. British officials said on Wednesday there were adequate reserves for British aircraft, whose main task is to keep track of Soviet naval movements in the Mediterranean. The Maltese ban was announced on Tuesday night by Mr Dom Mintoff's Government, which said Anglo-Maltese financial talks had reached stalemate. on Wednesday, however, it was reported, that Britain and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation had increased their rent offer by a million pounds. At the same time, Britain Wednesday announced cancellation of a visit to Malta by the Guided-Missile destroyer Norfolk and the anti-aircraft frigate Leopard.