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GV Crowd waving banners and flags in stadium
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GV Crowds cheer
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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Greek socialists at their first political rally since the November elections last year, in Athens on Saturday (6 September), attacked the Government's decision to reprieve the former Greek dictators from their death sentences for treason.

The socialists, from the Pannellenic Socialists Movement (PASOK), were rallying to celebrate the return of democracy and general elections in Greece, after the dictatorship there ended in coup last year.

The former Greek Junta military dictators were recently tried and found guilty on treason charges, and sentenced to death. Their sentences were later commuted to life imprisonment by Prime Minister Mr. Constantine Karamanlis.

The rally included speeches by PASOK leader Mr. Andreas Papandreou and a representative of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, and a programme of music and dancing.

SYNOPSIS: Greek socialists held their first rally since the November general elections last year, in an Athens stadium on Saturday. They were celebrating the return of democracy and general elections to Greece following the ending of the military dictatorship in coup last year. Among guest speakers was a representative of the Palestine Liberation Organisation. He addressed a salute to the socialist people of Greece, and to the overthrow of the military junta.

The socialists were members of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement - PASOK.

The rally was addressed by PASOK's leader, Andreas papandreou, who is also a leading figure in Greek politics. He praised the return of democracy as a victory, but attacked the present Greek Government for its leniency with the former junta members. The former dictators were recently tried and found guilty on treason charges, and sentenced to death. But Greek Premier Constantine Karamanlis later commuted their sentences to life imprisonment.