DEMONSTRATORS ASSEMBLE AT YOYOGI PARK; MARCHING AND SHOUTING; OUTSIDE KAMATA RAILWAY STATION; STUDENTS THROWING STONES; RIOT POLICE WITH WATER CANNON; FIGHTING; DEMONSTRATORS BEING ARRESTED (NATSOF)




Initials SAW/V/MR/MH



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: NEARLY 1,700 DEMONSTRATORS WERE ARRESTED AND 76 SERIOUSLY INJURED AFTER A RALLY IN TOKYO'S YOYOGI PARK YESTERDAY (SUNDAY) AND VIOLENT CLASHES WITH RIOT POLICE OUTSIDE TOKYO RAILWAY STATIONS.

THE DEMONSTRATIONS, ON THE EVE OF PREMIER EISAKU SATO'S DEPARTURE FOR THE UNITED STATES AND TALKS WITH PRESIDENT NIXON, CALLED FOR THE IMMEDIATE AND UNCONDITIONAL RETURN OF OKINAWA TO JAPAN.

DEMONSTRATORS FAILED IN A LAST MINUTE BID TODAY (MONDAY) TO PREVENT THE PREMIER FROM LEAVING FROM TOKYO AIRPORT. HIS TALKS IN WASHINGTON WILL CENTRE AROUND THE RETURN TO JAPAN OF FORMER JAPANESE ISLANDS CAPTURED BY U.S. FORCES DURING WORLD WAR TWO.

IN THE RIOTS YESTERDAY, THOUSANDS OF DEMONSTRATORS ARMED WITH PETROL BOMBS AND IRON BARS CAUSED CHAOS IN LARGE AREAS OF TOKYO -- BUT FAILED TO REACH THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, THEIR MAIN OBJECTIVE.

THE VIOLENCE CAME WHEN STUDENTS BROKE AWAY FROM A PEACEFUL RALLY AT YOYOGI PARK AND LAUNCHED GUERRILLA RAIDS ON POLICE AND RAILWAY STATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. IN SIX HOURS OF BITTER AND BLOODY FIGHTING, POLICE REPORTED NEARLY 1,700 DEMONSTRATORS ARRESTED AND 76 SERIOUSLY INJURED.

THE FIGHTING REACHED ITS PEAK WHEN 6,000 DEMONSTRATORS CLASHED WITH POLICE AT KAMATA RAILWAY STATION 2 1/2 MILES (4 KMS) FROM TOKYO AIRPORT. THE RIOT SUBSIDED ONLY AFTER REPEATED POLICE CHARGES WITH CANNONS AND TEAR GAS.

MR. SATO FLEW TO THE AIRPORT THIS MORNING BY HELICOPTER WITH AN ESCORT OF FOUR OTHER MILITARY HELICOPTERS.

SEVERAL HUNDRED STUDENTS TRIED TO MARCH TO THE AIRPORT BUT WERE STOPPED BY POLICE.