The Chilean Communist Party was preparing on Friday (31 December) to celebrate its 50th anniversary. As preparations were being made for the opening of the anniversary observances on Sunday (2 January), the country's Marxist President Salvador Allende was facing strong opposition to his policies from a number of groups.

SYNOPSIS: These posters in the centre of Santiago are there to mark the 50th anniversary of the Chilean Communist Party....which is being observed on Sunday. But as the party was preparing on Friday for the celebrations, the country's Marxist President Salvador Allende was facing tough opposition from a number of groups. It's here, in the centre of Santiago, that supporters of the President's Popular Front Coalition Government and those who support the Communist Party often gather to express their views.

But last month an estimated 60,000 opponents of the President staged a mass rally in a Santiago stadium protesting his policies. It was said the rally was the biggest since Allende took power.

Many of these at the rally protested the use of martial law following street fighting between opposing groups.