Communist parties from 34 countries are represented at celebrations this week in Santiago marking the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Chilean Communist Party.

The celebrations began on Sunday (2 Jan) with a working meeting in the city's Caupolican Theatre.

Similar meetings will continue in Santiago every day until Saturday (8 Jan).

The Chilean Communist Party is part of the left-wing coalition government headed by President Salvador Allende -- who just over a year ago became the world's first freely elected Marxist Head of State.

Delegates attending the first meeting heard Chilean Communist Senator Valodia Teitelboim claim the United States is trying to overthrow the government of President Allende.

SYNOPSIS: Santiago's popular Caupolican Theatre is the focal point for week-long ceremonies marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Chilean Communist Party. Delegates from 34 Communist parties around the world are in Chile for the celebrations -- and each day since Sunday they've met here for what are called working meetings. Among the visitors -- a delegation from Czechoslovakia.

Chile's Communist Senator Valodia Teitelboim was to publicy accuse the United States at this meeting of trying to overthrow the government of President Allende in Chile. The celebrations in Santiago come only a little more than twelve months after President Allende was elected -- the first Marxist to come to power in a free election. The Communist Party is major force in the coalition government he leads.

Five thousand people attended this first meeting in the anniversary celebrations. Presiding was Senator Louis Corvalan -- Secretary-General of the Chilean Communis Party. He greeted the Soviet delegation headed by the Secretary of the Soviet Central Committee, Mr. Andrei Kirilenko.

Cuba -- represented by Minister of Labour, Jorge Risquet. And Mr. Rafael Tarud is leader of another party in the Allende coalition.

Celebrations will continue in Santiago until Saturday. In subsequent sessions, delegates have spent much time in discussion, and listening to speeches. But the opening session was an occasion for celebration -- and flags of all the countries represented were paraded through the theatre. A mass rally will end the festivities on Saturday when tens of thousands of people are expected to pack Santiago's National Stadium.