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GV Carnival marchers parading along Paris street (3 shots)
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GV Parisian contingent in parade (3 shots)
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GV Moroccan marchers (2 shots)
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GV Crowd watching by side of street
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GV Togolese Group
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GV Chinese group
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GV Group with horned head gear dressed in red (2 shots)
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Initials MC/2330



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: In France, Parisians have been celebrating the coming of summer with a colourful carnival.

SYNOPSIS: The fashionable Rue de Rivoli, in Paris. Despite wet and rather unsummery weather, participants gathered in the afternoon to take part in the second Fete de Paris. Last year was the first year of the event.

With no other purpose than to have a good time the carnival attracted people from many countries. It was sponsored jointly by the commercial radio station, Europe Number One, and the Paris City Hall. The parade was punctuated with torrential rain, but nevertheless everyone remained in a festive mood.

The carnival was international in flavour -- and countries represented included West Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Colombia, Spain and an especially colourful Morrocan contingent. There were 800 people in the procession, which moved slowly along the Rue de Rivoli toward the Place de la Concorde. Crowds gathered all along the route.

These people come from Togo. A group from Brazil performed the Assomba dance and there were also participants from Italy and Portugal. 15 countries in all, representing all the communities, large and small, that give Paris its cosmopolitan atmosphere. The unseasonal temperatures only reached 14 degrees centigrade (57 fahrenheit) at noon, on the day chosen to celebrate summer.

The parade arrived at the Place de la Concorde, where there were further festivities, including ballet. Despite the weather, this year's Fete de Paris was considered a huge success and is expected to become an annual summer event. A parade and a carnival, with no other purpose than to have a good time.