- Title: DAHOMEY: PRESIDENT ZINSOU SWORN INTO OFFICE.
- Date: 19th July 1968
- Summary: PALACE; KEREKOU SPEAKING; ALLEY SPEAKING; ZINSOU RECEIVES GRAND CROSS; ZINSOU SHAKES HANDS WITH MINISTERS. Initials ???/VS/???/PF Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 3rd August 1968 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: COTONOU, DAHOMEY
- Country: Benin
- Reuters ID: LVAD03FQTRINBRRJ2ZOLXI1ZRVWL
- Story Text: DR. EMILE DERLIN ZINSOU, NEWLY-APPOINTED AS PRESIDENT OF DAHOMEY, WAS SWORN INTO OFFICE IN A CEREMONY AT THE PLACE OF THE REPUBLIC IN COTONOU ON WEDNESDAY.
DR. ZINSOU, FORMER FOREIGN SECRETARY AND PRESIDENT OF THE DAHOMEY SUPREME COURT, WAS NOMINATED FOR THE PRESIDENCY BY THE COUNTRY'S RULING MILITARY REGIME.
DR. ZINSOU WAS WELCOMED TO THE CEREMONY BY THE OUTGOING HEAD OF STATE, LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ALPHONSE ALLEY AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE REVOLUTIONARY MILITARY COMMITTEE, CAPTAIN MATHIEU KEREKOU.
CAPTAIN KEREKOU RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THE MILITARY RULERS' DECISION TO HAND OVER POWER TO THE NEW PRESIDENT FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS. AND IN HIS SPEECH OF WELCOME, COLONEL ALLEY APPEALED TO THE PEOPLE OF DAHOMEY TO GIVE DR. ZINZOU THEIR FULL SUPPORT IN HIS MISSION TO CONSTRUCT A NEW DAHOMEY.
PRESIDENT ZINSOU SAID HE WAS READY TO GOVERN THE COUNTRY ACCORDING TO CONSTITUTIONAL LEGALITY AND TO BRING ABOUT THE RECONCILIATION OF ALL DAHOMIANS. HE SAID THE LEGALITY GRANTED TO HIM BY THE PEOPLE WOULD ENABLE HIM TO ACT WITH THEIR SUPPORT AND AID.
THE PRESIDENT'S FIRST ACT WAS TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO HOLD OFFICE UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH. HE HAS ORDERED A NATIONAL REFERENDUM ON JULY 28, IN WHICH THE PEOPLE WILL BE ASKED TO CONFIRM HIS MANDATE.
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