1.
TV Demonstration in Bilbao
0.04

2.
GV The President of the Basque Regional Government, Carlos Garaikoetxea, getting out of car in crowd, shaking hands with supporters
0.34

3.
SV Police look on
0.37

4.
SVs Carlos Garaikoetxea applauded by crowd (2 shots)
0.46

5.
GV Carlos Garaikoetxea at head of demonstration which stretches right down the avenue (2 shots)
1.04

6.
SV Demonstrators chanting
1.11

7.
TV PAN Massive demonstration fills square
1.32

8.
SVs Carlos Garaikoetxea and applauding crowd (3 shots)
1.50




Initials JCIH/BB





Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: An estimated 100,000 people paraded through the Basque city of Bilbao on July 23 in protest at proposed reforms of regional autonomy in Spain. They were led in their march by the President of the Basque Regional Government, Carlos Garaikoetxea. The rally filled the city's broad streets for hundreds of metres and clogged up the main square. The marchers were protesting at a proposal to standardize the arrangements for autonomy throughout all Spain's regions. The Basque country, along with Catalonia and Galicia, at present enjoys self-government based on a statute suppressed during that years of Franco's rule. Now that autonomy is also proposed for the other regions, such as Andalusia, the Basques fear that such uniformity will lessen the powers they claim as their right. The most contentious issue is future control of the police, at present under military jurisdiction.