1.
GV Barracks at Ouidah
0.03

2.
GV & SV Troops singing (2 shots)
0.11

3.
SV Arrival of Chief of Staff shaking hands with troops (2 shots)
0.21

4.
CU Flag
0.26

5.
GV Soldiers parading ZOOM INTO CU.. Chief of Staff looking on
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6.
GV & SV PAN...soldiers parading as Chief of Staff looks on
0.48



Initials ES. 1630 ES. 1646



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A large group of young soldiers was presented with awards for exemplary service recently at the Ouidah Training School for Military Students in Dahomey.

The 224 soldiers had just completed their three months of basic officer training at the school, with was established to provide all forms of advanced military training.

The awards -- and a new flag -- were presented to the Director of the School, Captain Gbebaba, by the Chief of General Army Staff in Dahomey, Commander Mathieu Kerekou.

Before the soldiers paraded their new flag, Commander Kerekou told them that the new colours were to be protected and defended... even to the supreme sacrifice.

SYNOPSIS: At the Ouidah Army Barracks in Dahomey, two-hundred-and-twenty-four young soldiers have reason to celebrate. For they've been given awards for exemplary service.

Commander Mathieu Kerekou, the Chief of General Army Staff in Dahomey, went to the camp to meet the soldiers before he made the individual awards and the presentation of their new flag.

The soldiers have only been in training at the Dahomey Military School for three months. Before that, they were civilians. The commander told them in a speech that their new flag was to be protected and defended at all costs... even to the supreme sacrifice of death.