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L.V.Pan From street scene to conference building.


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S.V. Troops on guard outside building.


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S.V. Conference building.


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L.V. M. Bahi Ladghan seated addressing reporters.


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S.V. Reporters.


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S.V. M. Bahi Ladghan points out trouble area on wall map.


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C.U. M. Ladghan speaking.


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S.V. Guard on door.




Initials S-D W.S./P.B.



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: While the Tunisian representative at the United Nations was complaining to the Security Council about 'French aggression' and asked for such measures as the Security Council thought would restore peace and security in Tunisia, the Tunisian Minister for Defence stated that his country might be prepared to consider the use of the present French base at Biserta for Western defence, but first of all the French must concede the principle of evacuation of the 20,000 troops still on Tunisian soil.

Speaking excitedly, M. Bahi Ladgham pointed at a wall-map showing the positions of French troops in Tunisia. Thumping the map where the town of Remada is situated he said that the French had illegally doubled the garrison at the Remada fort during the last week, bringing its strength up to two batallions. It is in that area that there has been a continual exchange of fire between French and Tunisian troops.

The French accuse the Tunisians of provoking incidents in an attempt to turn world favour to their cause. During one such incident, on Sunday May 25th., the village of Remada was attacked by French soldiers after fire from automatic weapons, positioned in the nearby houses, caused a French patrol to retreat to their base. Under the impression that their warning to the populace had been heeded, and the village had been evacuated, Col. Mollot, commander of the Remada fort, ordered his men into action. Gun-fire, that appeared to come from the local school buildings, was replied to with machine guns and grenades. Later it was found that the school-master, his wife and three children had been killed in one of the classrooms.