AN AERIAL VIEW OF ROAD TRAFFIC, A CAR AND ITS DRIVER BEING SEARCHED, AND ANOTHER HELICOPTER LANDING SECURITY FORCES.




Initials JT/V/AW/OS



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Background: HELICOPTERS PLAY AN IMPORTANT SECURITY ROLE IN ADEN, WHICH TODAY (SATURDAY) WAS RIPPED BY ANTI-BRITISH RIOTING.MANNED BY BRITISH TROOPS, THEY PATROL ROADS LEADING INTO THE BRITISH COLONY, LANDING TO SEARCH SUSPECTED VEHICLES.

THE AIRBORNE ROAD PATROLS BEGAN AFTER A WAVE OF TERRORISM - MURDER AND SABOTAGE - HAD LED TO THE SUSPENSION A WEEK AGO OF THE ADEN CONSTITUTION.

THE NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT, AN ORGANISATION WITH EGYPTIAN BACKING WHICH HAS BEEN BLAMED FOR THE VIOLENCE IS THOUGHT TO GET ITS WEAPONS FROM THE NEIGHBOURING YEMEN - SMUGGLED IN BY ROAD AND FOOT.

TODAY THE BRITISH HELICOPTERS WERE USED TO RUSH TROOPS INTO THE TOWN AREA, WHERE DEMONSTRATORS SET FIRE TO A CHURCH, BURNED A NEWSPAPER OFFICE AND DAMAGED AT LEAST 200 CARS.MORE THAN 200 RIOTERS WERE ARRESTED.THE RIOTING CAME DURING A 24-HOUR GENERAL STRIKE CALLED BY THE ADEN TRADES UNION CONGRESS IN PROTEST AGAINST BRITISH POLICY IN SOUTH ARABIA.