The Canadian Government assumed emergency powers, outlawed the extremist Quebec Liberation Front (FLQ), launched a massive police hunt for the kidnappers of British Diplomat James Cross and Quebec Minister Pierre Laporte, and arrested many leading members of the FLQ on Friday(October 16).

Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau decided to invoke the War Measures Act - not used since the Second World War -after the Quebec Government reported a state of "apprehended Insurrection".

The appeal to the Government came after the FLQ had ignored the Provincial Government's final offer for the freedom of the two hostages - the release of five of the 23 imprisoned separatists the FLQ had wanted freed.

As Mr. Trudeau's decision was being announced in Ottawa, police were sweeping through Montreal and Quebec City in a series of lightening raids which produced more than 200 arrests from the ranks of the FLQ and its supporters as well s several of its leaders.

Among those detained on Friday were Labour Leader Michel Chartrand and Separatists Charles Gagnon, Pierre Vallieres and Jacques Larue-Langlois.

Mr. Chartrand leads the Montreal Central Council of the confederation of National Trade Unions.

Gagnon and Vallieres have both appeared in court on charges concerning terrorist activities, and Larue-Langlois once headed a committee seeking their release from custody.

On Thursday (October 15) Gagnon, Vallieres and Chartrand spoke at a student rally called to support the FLQ.