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MV Crowds chanting for Mrs. Peron (2 shots)
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MV Mrs. Peron's helicopter lifts off from Government House roof
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CU Admiral Massera takes oath
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CU General Videla takes the oath
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CU Brigadier Agosti takes oath
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MV Tank in street with soldiers directing traffic (3 shots)
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MV Tank and troops checking cars and drives (4 shots)
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Initials CL/2332



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The Argentine Army commander, General Jorge Videla, will be installed as Head of State on Monday (29 March) by the military junta which deposed President Maria Estela Peron last wednesday (24 March).

The three-man junta of Army, Navy and Air Force chiefs named general Videla President and declared they would hold power for at least three years. Reuters said military sources expected the 50-year old General to name a cabinet soon after he was sworn in.

Eight military officers currently head government ministries as caretakers while the junta begins its self-appointed task of national re-organisation. Economic chaos, political violence and widespread labour unrest prompted the armed forces to seize power again after three year of civilian rule. President Maria Peron came to power when her husband, President Juan Peron, died in office in July, 1974.

The coup leader, General Videla, became army commander in August last year after leading a rebellion against the reigning army chief, General Numa Laplane, who had been accused of having close links with disgraced former Peronist Social Welfare Minister Jose Lopez Rega.

The General sided in the early 1960's with rebellious army factions who wanted Peronists banned from elections. The army commander and the two other armed forces chiefs stated Wednesday's coup three months after General Videla warned the Peronist administration to do something about widespread allegations of government corruption.

Behind the calm public atmosphere int he wake of the coup, with armed soldiers patrolling the streets, the junta has move quickly to consolidate its takeover by beginning a purge of the civil service, detaining prominent Peronists and imposing the death penalty for saboteurs and terrorists. Reuters quote informed sources as saying about 4,000 people had been arrested.

Former President Peron is being kept under arrest at the argentine President's winter residence at Messidor. She was arrested at Buenos Aires airport on Wednesday night after attempting to flee the country.

SYNOPSIS: The Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, on Wednesday night, and crowds gathered outside the presidential residence to shout their support for President Marie Estela Peron.

It was the president's last night in power. She flew to Buenos Aires airport by helicopter, but was arrested while trying to flee a military coup which toppled her government.

One of the coup leaders was Admiral Emilio Massera, the commander in chief of the navy. The Admiral, along with army chief, general Rafael Videla and Brigadier Orlando Agosti of the air force, seized power after three years of civilian rule, which had seen economic chaos, political violence and widespread labour unrest.

General Videla, who'll be installed as President on Monday, became army chief in August last year after leading a rebellion against reigning army commander, General Numa Laplane He also side with army factions wanting Peronists banned from elections in the early 1960's.

Admiral Massera and the air force commandeer, Brigadier Agosti, have announced they'll stay in power for at least three years. Reuters said military sources expect General Videla to announce a cabinet soon after he's sworn in as president.

The military junta has already started to consolidate its position by beginning a purge of the civil service, detaining prominent members of the former President's Peronist party and imposing the death penalty for saboteurs and terrorists.

Reuters quoted informed sources as saying about four thousand people have been arrested, including former President Peron, who is being held at the Presidential winter residence at Messidor.