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GV Crowds and guard of honour outside cemetery
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SV Defence Minister (left) talking to Fautario
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GV Troops
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GV & SV Car carrying coffin followed by window and family mourners (3 shots)
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GV Chapel at cemetery PAN TO cars arriving
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SCU Window and son and relatives following car as others look on (4 shots)
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GV Service in progress outside chapel
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Initials BB/1600 NPJ/DW/BB/1830



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: As the death-toll in the political and factional violence currently gripping Argentina rose to 448 this year, a terrorist murdered the head of the Defence Ministry Intelligence Department, Air Force Vice-Commodore, Rolando Segundo Sileoni on Wednesday (17 September). Senor Sileoni, who was doing the shopping when he was attacked by the terrorists in the Vicent??? Lopez suburb of Buenos Aires.

Police said that the gunman fired several shots at point blank range at Senor Sileoni as he was shopping in a grocery store. The gunman is reported to have screamed "We've come to liquidate you". After the shooting the assassin escaped in a car occupied by three other persons. No terrorist group has so far claimed responsibility.

The funeral of Senor Sileoni took place on Thursday (18 September) at the Metropolitan Cemetery in Buenos Aires. It was attended by his widow and children and also the Commander in chief of the Air Force, Brigadier Hector Fautario and the Minister of Defence, Vottero, and other Defence Ministry officials.

Although Senior Sileoni had retired from the Air Force in 1970, he had chosen to continue working at the Defence Ministry. He was the father of two children -- an eighteen year-old son and a fifteen year-old daughter.

After leaving the Air Force in 1970 he became Director of Police Affairs at the Interior Ministry in February 1971, and remained there up to December, 1973, before being transferred to the Defence Ministry.