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GV Poster of Lenin ZOOM BACK TO mass rally (3 shots)
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SV Young man reads victims' names and crowd listens (2 shots)
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CU Melina Mercouri and Jules Dassin
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SV Young boys and girls distribute flowers
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Initials



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: On Sunday (16 November), the Greek Communist Party held a huge rally to mark its 57th anniversary. The rally, attended by thousands, was held in Panionian Stadium near Athens. The Government would permit the rally to be held only in such an enclosed location.

Among those who attended was Greek actress Melina Mercouri and her husband, screen director Jules Dassin. Both were persistent critics of the previous regime of the Colonels.

A young man read the names of Communist party members who have been victims of efforts by various Greek governments to suppress the Communist Party.

Hundreds waved banners with the words "NATO Out", "Out foreign monopolies", and "U.S. bases out".

The theme of the day was "bread, work, national independence and popular sovereignty".

The Greek Communist Party has had a long and difficult struggle with various Greek governments since the Second World War, when it played a major role in the anti-Hitler underground efforts in Greece.

Following the war the Party made a drive for power but was eventually forced underground. It was also rigidly suppressed during the Colonels' regime which finally collapsed after the outbreak of hostilities on Cyprus.