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GV Huge crowd gathered at Franco rally in Oriente Square with banners, as music plays and speakers sit on rostrum (3 shots)
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GV Speakers on rostrum standing to attention as band plays
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SV Speaker addressing crowd from rostrum PAN TO Crowd applauding (2 shots)
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Police kept a low profile at the rally, but security contingents in squad cars and helicopters guarded the Cortes -- the Spanish parliament -- and other government buildings. There was no violence.




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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Thousands of right-wingers gathered in Madrid on Sunday (18 November) to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the death of Spanish dictator, General Francisco Franco. Demonstrators, giving fascist salutes, paid tribute to Jose Antonio Prima de Rivera -- the founder of the right-wing falange, who was executed in November, 1936. Observers agreed that the turnout was bigger than last year. This suggested growing support for the far right -- a faction with minimal parliamentary representation at present.

SYNOPSIS: The crowd of right-wingers gathered at Oriente Square -- in front of the Royal Palace in Madrid -- to pay tribute to the man they regard as the hero of the Spanish Civil War.

Many of those at the rally were themselves veterans of the Civil War and some wore the characteristic brown shirts. Members of the right-wing Falange carried posters with slogans reading "No Jews" and "Reds back to Moscow".

Successive speakers condemned moves by the Spanish Government to give home rule to Catalonia and the Basque country. They said the passing of autonomy statutes signified the break-up of the Spanish nation. They also condemned the Government for failing to deal with terrorism and branded deputy Premier, Gutierrez Mellado, as a traitor.