DEMONSTRATORS WITH BANNERS AND PLACARDS; FLAGS BEING BURNED; SPEAKER.




Initials AB/VS/CR/OS



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Background: SOME 3,000 MADRID STUDENTS TODAY (FRIDAY) BURNED UNITED STATES FLAGS IN THE BIGGEST ANTI-AMERICAN DEMONSTRATION HELD IN SPAIN UNDER THE FRANCO REGIME.

CARRYING PLACARDS SAYING "YANKEE ASSASSINS OUT OF VIETNAM" AND "U.S. BASES OUT OF SPAIN" THEY MARCHED FROM THE PHILOSOPHY FACULTY OF MADRID UNIVERSITY AND BURNED UNITED STATES FLAGS, SOME WITH SWASTIKAS PAINTED OVER THE STARS AND STRIPES.

THEN, SITTING AROUND THE DYING EMBERS OF THE FLAMES AND HOLDING HIGH THE BLUE AND RED FLAG OF THE VIET CONG, THEY OBSERVED TWO MINUTES' SILENCE AGAINST UNITED STATES ACTION IN VIETNAM.

AS THE STUDENTS BEGAN TO DISPERSE, POLICE WHO HAD SEALED OFF THE UNIVERSITY MOVED FORWARD WITH JEEPS, STEEL-HELMETED HORSEMEN AND ARMOURED TANKERS WITH POWERFUL JET HOSES, BUT DID NOT INTERVENE.

THE FLAG BURNING, TO THE SOUNDS OF LOUD, RHYTHMIC HAND-CLAPPING AND CHANTS OF "HO CHI MINH, HO CHI MINH - THE PEOPLE WILL CONQUER" CAME AFTER A MASS MEETING IN THE PHILOSOPHY FACULTY.