1.
MV MEMORIAL PAN DOWN
0.08

2.
CU PLAQUE
0.11

3.
MV SOLDIERS & PRESSMEN
0.14

4.
CU GUARD
0.17

5.
MV PEOPLE WALK PAST WITH WREATHS
0.38

6.
CU ONLOOKERS (2 SHOTS)
0.43

7.
MV SOLDIERS LAYING WREATHS (2 SHOTS)
1.10

8.
MV WREATHS
1.12

9.
CU OFFICERS SALUTING
1.17

10.
CU GUARD AND ONLOOKER (2 SHOTS)
1.20

11.
MV GUARDS, WREATHS BEING LAID & CROWDS
1.29



Initials KM/VS/CT/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: CZECHOSLOVAK PRESIDENT LUDVIK SVOBODA TODAY (THURSDAY) ATTENDED A SPECIAL CEREMONY TO MARK THE 24TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS COUNTRY'S LIBERATION FROM GERMAN OCCUPATION. THE SERVICE WAS HELD AT THE SOVIET MEMORIAL IN PRAGUE.

THE CELEBRATIONS ARE LOW-KEYED THIS YEAR BECAUSE THE SOVIET UNION -- ONE OF THE LIBERATING POWERS IN 1945 -- STILL HAS TROOPS ON CZECHOSLOVAK SOIL FOLLOWING INTERVENTION BY WARSAW PACT TROOPS LAST SUMMER. THE PACT POWERS SAID THE ACTION WAS TAKEN TO FORESTALL A COUNTER-REVOLUTION WHICH THEY FEARED WOULD RESULT FROM THE LIBERAL REFORMS OF FORMER PARTY LEADER ALEXANDER DUBCEK.

SOVIET AUTHORITIES -- AWARE OF THE MOOD OF THE CZECH PEOPLE -- HAVE NOT INSISTED ON LARGE SCALE NATIONAL CEREMONIES WHICH ARE TRADITIONAL.