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GV Crowds arriving for celebrations
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SV President's Maga & Bongo in car waves to crowd at airport
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SV Crowd
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CU Maga & Bongo in car & away (2 shots)
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LV Gabonese plane arriving
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LV Maga & wife walk to plane
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LV President Diori leaves aircraft & greeted by Maga (2 shots)
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LV Presidents away from plane
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CU Presidents' wives
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CU Maga & Diori leave airport in car (2 shots)
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GV Celebrations across road & crowd arriving
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Initials SGM/2222 SGM/2216



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Presidents Hamani Diori of Niger and Albert-Bernard Bongo of Gabon were the chief guests at Dahomey's 11th Independence anniversary, celebrations last week (31 July - 1 August), presided over by President Hubert Maga. Dahomey's Head of State said that the country had lived in peace for a year because it had not indulged in sterile conflicts.

SYNOPSIS: Last week the population of Dahomey celebrated the eleventh anniversary of Independence. With President Maga for the celebrations was President Bongo of Gabon.

The highlight of the celebrations was to be a big four-hour parade by several thousand soldiers and civilians. All Dahomey's regions were represented by folk-dancers, young people and women. The celebrations were held in Perakou, in the Borgou department. The President of Niger also arrived for the celebrations, and was met at the airport by President Maga of Dahomey.

In a message to mark the eleventh anniversary, President Maga said the country had lived in peace for the past twelve months because it had not undulged in sterile conflicts. This, he said, is the foundation of the country, and what should be celebrated.