SIR OMAR MOSQUE; INTERIOR CONGREGATION AT PRAYER; SULTAN HASSANAL COMES OUT AND PUTS ON SHOES; GREETS PEOPLE; INTO CAR AND DRIVES OFF.




Initials RGH/VS/JF/MM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: BRUNEI'S NEW SULTAN, CROWN PRINCE HASSANDAL BOLKIAH, AGED 22, MADE HIS FIRST PUBLIC APPEARANCE AT FRIDAY PRAYERS (OCT 6) AT THE HUGE MOSQUE NAMED AFTER HIS FATHER, SIR OMAR ALI SAIFUDDIN, WHO ABDICATED LAST WEDNESDAY.

SULTAN HASSANAL WAS INSTALLED AS THE 29TH SULTAN OF BRUNEI LAST THURSDAY (OCT. 5).

THERE WAS A LARGE TURN OUT AT THE MOSQUE AND AT THE END OF THE PRAYERS, THE SULTAN WAS GREETED BY MANY OF HIS PEOPLE.

BRITAIN'S DECISION TO PULL OUT FROM OIL-RICH BRUNEI AS PART OF THE EAST SUEZ POLICY WAS SAID TO BE THAN THE MAIN REASON BEHIND SIR OMAR'S ABDICATION.

BRUNEI IS STILL UNDER A STATE OF EMERGENCY FOLLOWING THE 1962 REVOLT.

MEANWHILE, THE BRUNEI GOVERNMENT MAY SOON GIVE ORDERS FOR ITS ELECTION MACHINERY TO GET INTO GEAR FOR A CONTEST IN THE NEAR FUTURE WHICH MAY MEAN SIR OMAR'S RETURN TO POWER AS THE HEAD OF A POLITICAL PARTY.