1.
CU SIGN "PRINCIPALITE OF MONACO" PAN TO TRAFFIC QUEUEING UP TO GO PAST CUSTOMS
0.10

2.
CU POLICEMAN AT CAR
0.12

3.
CU POLICEMAN EXAMINES PAPERS
0.15

4.
LV POLICEMAN WALKS UP TO VAN
0.19

5.
SV ONLOOKERS
0.21

6.
LV POLICEMAN AT LORRY
0.26

7.
SV POLICEMAN LOWERS BONNET OF CAR
0.30

8.
CU POLICEMAN LOOKS INTO CABIN OF VEHICLE
0.35

9.
LV WOMAN LOOKS ON
0.37

10.
SCU POLICEMAN INSPECTS BOOTH OF CAR
0.43

11.
LV POLICE WAVE ON CAR, PAN DOWN QUEUE OF CARS
0.50



Initials KJ/S/WH/BB/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: FRENCH CUSTOMS CONTROLS AT THE MONACO FRONTIER WERE TIGHTENED YESTERDAY (SATURDAY) AT THE HEIGHT OF THE CHRISTMAS RUSH.

A HUGE TRAFFIC QUEUE FORMED ON THE SEASIDE ROAD TO NICE SHORTLY BEFORE NOON AS REINFORCED FRENCH CUSTOMS TEAMS STARTED MINUTE INSPECTION OF MONEGASQUE, FRENCH AND TOURIST CARS. AS CARS AND LORRIES TRICKLED THROUGH THE CONTROL BARRIER, MONEGASQUE MOTORISTS ANGRILY SOUNDED THEIR HORNS.

CUSTOMS OFFICIALS - SIX INSTEAD OF THE USUAL TWO - TOLD REPORTERS THEY HAD INSTRUCTIONS FROM PARIS TO STEP UP THE CONTROLS "UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE" BECAUSE OF THE FRANCO-MONEGASQUE TAX DISPUTE. THE MOVE CAME AS A SURPRISE IN VIEW OF LAST TUESDAY'S NEW MONACO CONSTITUTION AND THE PROMISE IT SEEMED TO BEAR OF AN EARLY RESUMPTION OF FRANCO-MONEGASQUE TALKS.