MR GEORGE PAPANDREOU, THE OUSTED GREEK PRIME MINISTER, HAS SPENT THE WEEKEND "MARCHING TO THE PEOPLE". HE HAS BEEN TOURING PROVINCIAL AREA, SEEKING SUPPORT IN CASE A FRESH GENERAL ELECTION IS CALLED. HE WAS RECEIVED WITH ACCLAMATION ALMOST EVERYWHERE.

MR PAPANDREOU BEGAN HIS TOUR FROM SOUTH CENTRAL GREECE, WORKING HIS WAY NORTH TO LARISSA. CROWDS TURNED OUT TO CHEER HIS MOTORCADE, AND OFTEN HE STOPPED TO ADDRESS THEM. POLICE WERE OUT IN FORCE, BUT APART FROM NOISY SLOGAN-SHOUTING AND SOME ARGUMENTS THE CROWDS WERE ORDERLY.

IN LARISSA, CENTRAL GREECE, A CROWD OF 30,000 PACKED THE MAIN SQUARE TO HEAR HIM CALL FOR NEW ELECTIONS. THE PREVIOUS DAY, MR PAPANDREOU HAD PREDICTED THAT THE NEW GOVERNMENT OF MR ELIAS TSIRIMOKOS, WHICH FACES A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE THIS WEEK, WOULD "DIE WITHIN TEN DAYS."
DISCUSSING THE SPLIT IN HIS CENTRE UNION PARTY, HE ATTRIBUTED IT TO "ROYAL PALACE INTRIGUE.": HE SAID HE DID NOT RECOGNISE THE NEW PREMIER.

MR PAPANDREOU WAS DUE TO RETURN TO ATHENS TODAY (MONDAY) TO PREPARE FOR TOMORROW'S OPENING OF THE CRUCIAL PARLIAMENT SESSION.

(MEANWHILE, MR TSIRIMOKOS, WHO SPENT THE WEEKEND RESTING, EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE THAT HE WILL RECEIVE PARLIAMENT'S SUPPORT FOR HIS NEW GOVERNMENT).