1.
GV & STV DEMONSTRATORS MARCH ( 2 SHOTS )
0.10

2.
GV PAN MARCHERS IN SQUARE BLOCKED OFF FROM STREETS BY LORRIES
0.19

3.
SV & GV LORRIES BLOCKING (2 SHOTS)
0.25

4.
LV & GV LINE OF RIOT POLICE ACROSS ROAD (2 SHOTS)
0.30

5.
GTV DEMONSTRATORS USING CATAPULTS
0.34

6.
STV RIOT POLICE WITH SHIELDS
0.37

7.
STV THUNDER-FLASH EXPLODES ON GROUND
0.38

8.
SV STV & GV DEMONSTRATORS THROW ROCKS AT POLICE WHO STAND FIRM (3 SHOTS)
0.46

9.
STV POLICE PREPARING TO FIRE GAS SHELLS
0.48

10.
SV PEOPLE IN FOREGROUND, CARS BLOCKING ROAD IN BACKGROUND
0.51

11.
MV & SV GAS CANISTERS SMOKING ON GROUND (2 SHOTS)
0.54

12.
SLV MAN KICKS GAS SHELL BACK
0.57

13.
STV & SV PAN RIOT POLICE RUN TOWARDS DEMONSTRATORS WHO RUN AWAY (3 SHOTS)
1.05

14.
GTV POLICE IN SOLID FORMATION WALK DOWN STREET
1.10

15.
SV ARRESTED MAN HANDLED BY POLICE
1.15

16.
SV & LV GAS SHELL SMOKING NEAR RUNNING PEOPLE (2 SHOTS)
1.18

17.
GTV POLICE IN SOLID FORMATION WALK DOWN STREET
1.22

18.
SV DEMONSTRATORS RETREATING
1.28

19.
GV GAS SHELL SMOKING, DEMONSTRATOR TAKING COVER IN GATEWAY
1.30

20.
GV OTHER DEMONSTRATORS AT CORNER WITH POLICE BLOCKING STREET IN BACKGROUND
1.32

21.
SV DEMONSTRATORS RUNNING AND FROM GAS BOMB IN ROAD (2 SHOTS)
1.37



Initials LD/V/JF/PC



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: TEN THOUSAND PEOPLE - WINE-GROWERS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS - DEMONSTRATED IN NARBONNE, SOUTH WEST FRANCE, YESTERDAY (FRIDAY), DURING THE DAY OF NATIONAL ACTION ORGANISED BY FARMING UNIONS TO AIR SEVERAL GRIEVANCES, MAINLY THE IMPORTATION OF ALGERIAN WINE.

THE DEMONSTRATION WAS ONE OF SEVERAL THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN FRANCE-THE MAIN ONES BEING MONTPELLIER, LANGUEDOC, DRAGUIGNAN AND NARBONNE.

WITH CRIES OF "NO BOUMEDIENNE WINE", "A TRACTOR FOR DUHAMEL" AND "WE WANT TO LIVE", THE FARMERS ARE DEMANDING EASING OF CREDIT RESTRICTIONS, AID TO REGIONS IN DEFICIT, UPKEEP OF MARKETS AND, ABOVE ALL, THE RESTRICTION OF THE IMPORT OF ALGERIAN WINES.

IN ALL, MORE THAN 330,000 WINE-GROWERS DEMONSTRATED AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT'S FARMING POLICIES. ALTHOUGH THE ORGANISERS HAD PLANNED THAT THE MARCHES SHOULD BE PEACEFUL, SOME YOUNGER GROUPS-AUGMENTED BY LEFT-WING STUDENTS-SOON BEGAN THROWING STONES AND OTHER OBJECTS, THE POLICE RETALIATED WITH GAS BOMBS. IN NARBONNE, THE PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVE WAS TO BLOCKADE THE ROADS AND DISRUPT TRAFFIC-ALLOWING ONLY AMBULANCES AND EMERGENCY VEHICLES TO GET THROUGH, BUT BY THE TIME THE DEMONSTRATION AND ITS UNPLANNED RAMIFICATIONS WERE OVER, FIVE PEOPLE HAD BEEN SLIGHTLY INJURED (THREE OF THEM MEMBERS OF THE RIOT POLICE FORCE) AND SEVERAL ARRESTED.

THE RESULTS OF THIS ACTION DAY ARE EXPECTED TO BE SEEN WHEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE FARMERS' UNION, M.G. DE CAFFARELLI, MEETS WITH MINISTERS OF AGRICULTURE DUHAMEL DURING THE CONGRESS AT LYON NEXT WEEK.