JOURNALISTS OUTSIDE LISBON HOSPITAL; MEDICAL BULLETIN POSTED.




Initials PBS/V/PN/OS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THERE WAS AN OMINOUS RISE IN THE TEMPERATURE OF DOCTOR SALAZAR, PORTUGUESE PREMIER TODAY (THURSDAY), BUT SPECIALISTS HAVE NOT GIVEN UP HOPE OF HIS RECOVERY. DOCTOR SALAZAR SUFFERED A SEVERE STROKE SEVERAL DAYS AGO AFTER UNDERGOING BRIEF NEURO-SURGERY.

WORLDWIDE ATTENTION HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON THE HOSPITAL WHERE HE LIES GRAVELY ILL FOLLOWING REPORTS OF COINCIDING INTERNAL TENSIONS IN PORTUGAL.

AS THE PRIME MINISTER CONTINUES TO WAVER, THE PORTUGUESE PRESIDENT, AMERICO TOMAS, HAS CONTINUED MEETINGS WITH MEMBERS OF THE PORTUGUESE COUNCIL OF STATE TO REACH A CONSENSUS ON DOCTOR SALAZAR'S SUCCESSOR. HE IS EXPECTED TO MAKE HIS DECISION KNOWN BEFORE THE WEEKEND, AND INDICATIONS ARE THAT HE WILL NAME DOCTOR MARCELO CATEANO, A FORMER MINISTER AND PROFESSOR OF LAW.

PORTUGAL IS IN A STATE OF ALERT AFTER RADIO BROADCASTS URGING THE PORTUGUESE TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NO INCIDENTS.