ALGIERS, ALGERIA

GV Plane on runway 0.06
SV President Chadli Benjedid and others walking to plane 0.13
GV President Seyni Kountche leaving plane and being greeted 0.27
SV PAN Band being inspected by President Kountche 0.37
GVs Guard of honour reviewed by group (2 shots) 0.58
SV INTERIOR Presidents Kountche and Benjedid seated 1.04
CU PULL BACK Presidents seated 1.09

Background: ALGIERS, ALGERIA

INTRODUCTION: President Seyni Kountche of Niger arrive in Algeria on Saturday (3 October) for talks with his Algerian counterpart, President Chadli Benjedid. It was their second meeting since July, when President Kountche last visited Algiers.

SYNOPSIS: Niger's head of state flew into Algiers airport for further discussion about African and international affairs -- and in particular relations between the two countries, President Chadli was at the airport to greet his guest, who has played a major part in bridging the gap between Northern and Southern Africa. Algeria and Niger are united in their opposition to the policies of the Libyan Jamahiriyah.

President Kountche has accused the Libyan leader, Colonel Gaddafi, of attempts to weaken Niger's unity, bringing new tensions to his part of the continent. In a speech earlier this year, he referred to the Libyan Jamahiriyah as 'the enemy', claiming that its aim was the disintegration of Niger. Last year, Niger strongly opposed the Libyan intervention in Chad, describing Colonel Gaddafi as a 'scavenger who feeds on corpses'.

Arab countries friendly to Niger are subsidising a number of projects in the fields of education , health and rural development provided for in Niger's 1982 budget.

Source: REUTERS - MOHAMMED MENDIL