1.
GV EXT Police headquarters
0.08

2.
SV President Bokassa and welcomed (2 shots)
0.18

3.
SV ZOOM IN Police guard of honour
0.24

4.
SV Bokassa inspects guard of honour
0.30

5.
SV PAN Guard of honour
0.38

6.
SV Bokassa shakes hands with officers
0.51

7.
SV PAN Police
1.02

8.
SV Bokassa goes forward and salutes new police chief
1.09

9.
SV Flag raised
1.23

10.
SV Bokassa addressing police
1.39

11.
SV New police chief listens
1.42

12.
SV Bokassa continues (2 shots)
1.58

13.
SV New Police chief forward to microphone
2.08

14.
SV Officers listen
2.21

15.
SV New Chief of Police forward, turns and salutes
2.29



Initials MF/AS/MH/1154 MF/AS/MH/1217



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Colonel Andre-Diaudonne Magale, former Minister of Public Health, was installed as the new Chief of Police of the Central African Republic by President Bokassa in Bangui recently. The new appointment made by President Bokassa was a police step designed to end alleged former disloyalty in the police force. Another military man, Lieutenant-Colonel Martin Lingoupou, was appointed the President's Chief of Staff.

Speaking at the installation ceremony President Bokassa, who is himself Chief of General Staff and Minister of Defence, accused certain elements of the police force of not demonstrating full support for changes in government policy.

President Bokassa pointed out that the police force forms an integral part of the Central African armed forces and as such had the same responsibilities towards the head of state as the army. Moreover, he continued, never had he refused the police force his personal support in moments of trouble and he would always pay heed to their grievances.

If certain elements of the police had fallen for the lies of some foreigners living in the Central African Republic, he said, these policemen were doing as much harm to themselves as to the President.

The President added that any moves against himself, in the form of rebellious plans against his person, could only serve to harm the police and the armed forces, for he was the one who had established Central African armed forces in the first place.

President Bokassa, accompanied by the Deputy-Chief of Staff, inspected a police guard of honour and saluted the new police chief.