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TV Procession down street PAN TO float.
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2.
SV School children's band playing.
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SV Children dressed as Spanish soldiers. (2 shots)
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SV Army officers on rostrum.
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SV Children dressed as Spanish soldiers fight duel.
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6.
CU President Guillermo Rodriguez Lara.
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SV Child carrying banner.
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Child dressed as Spanish monk carrying cross.
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9.
SV Bands playing in procession.
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10.
CU Child wearing hat on which is written "Viva Quito"
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SV Women gypsy dancers.
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GV Crowd
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CU President Rodriguez Lara watching procession.
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SV Women dancing with large bottles on their head.
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CU Painting of man on horse PAN DOWN TO President Rodriguez Lara speaking on his promised nationalisation programme.
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CU President speaking.
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Almost the entire population of the capital city of Ecuador, Quito, turned out to celebrate the founding o the city more than four-hundred-and-forty years ago. The city was founded by Spanish adventurers in fifteen thirty-four. The city now has a population of more than sixty thousand people, some of whom can trace their ancestry back to the ancient South American Indians.



These children are representing the original Spanish soldier-settlers who came to the now thriving city so long ago.



Members of the Military Government watched the festivities.



The present Government seized power from the former civilian government in February nineteen-seventy-two. The President of Ecuador is now General Guillermo Rodriguez Lara.



But nearly four hundred years ago the area of Ecuador was named "Nueve Granada" because the early Spanish settlers thought it bore a resemblance to the country around the city of Granada in Spain.



The children of Quito came out in force to show their feelings towards their city.



President Rodriguez Lara watched the procession from the high vantage point of the official rostrum. Everyone had a party trick, including ladies who allowed the bottle to go their heads.



After the procession the President spoke to the large crowd. Previously President Rodriguez Lara had announced that he would end his four year military dictatorship and make way for civilian rule. The fifty one year old General said he would transfer power to a civilian government probably next February.



At the Quito festival the President told the crowd that while still in power his Government would continue with its proposed nationalisation programme.




Initials VS 22.05 VS 22.20



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Almost the entire population of Quito, the capital of the South American country of Ecuador, turned out into the streets to celebrate the founding of their city four hundred and forty one years ago.

Spanish adventurers named the town in 1534 as they opened up the part of South America now known as Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela. The Spanish named the entire area "Nueva Granada" because they thought it bore a resemblance to the country around the Spanish city of Granada.

The city of Quito is surrounded by volcanoes and high rugged mountains. Many of the people there can trace their ancestry back to the ancient South American Indians.

It is said that the people of Quito differ from the rest of the Ecuadorains in that they are more tranquil and go about their business with less of a rush. Whether there is any truth in this is open to question, as Quito itself is a thriving city with modern "skyscraper" buildings, wide streets, and all the modern amenities of a bustling modern city, including casinos.

But tucked away all the hustle and bustle is a small part of the city known as "the old Quito". This is the remnant of the original Spanish settlement where time has stood still amongst the narrow winding streets and the mudbricks, slate roofed houses where the old people sit in doorways to catch the warm sun in winter and the cool evening breeze in summer.

After a big procession through the streets of the city, President Guillermo Rodriguez Lara spoke to the large crowd and promised that he would implement a promised government nationalisation programme.