PORTUGAL: ARMED FORCES COUNCIL OF THE REVOLUTION HOLDS URGENT MEETING AS NEW CRACKS APPEAR IN ARMY UNITY.

Record ID: 649356

  • Title: PORTUGAL: ARMED FORCES COUNCIL OF THE REVOLUTION HOLDS URGENT MEETING AS NEW CRACKS APPEAR IN ARMY UNITY.
  • Date: 17th October 1975
  • Summary: 1. GV Military Council building 0.08??? 2. CU Prime Minster Pinheiro de Azevedo ZOOM OUT TO other members including President Costa Gomes 0.16 3. CU Army Chief, General Fabiao 0.21 4. SV PULL OUT Minister seated at table 0.30 5. CU ZOOM OUT TO Admiral Countinho and other army leaders seated 0.37 6. GV Conference in progress 0.42 Initials BB/0420 AMN/PN/BB/0349 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 1st November 1975 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LISBON, PORTUGAL
  • Country: Portugal
  • Reuters ID: LVA327EVE3ZKULY330JHRBN82WOK
  • Story Text: The Ruling Armed Force Council of the Revolution met in Lisbon on Thursday (16 October) as signs of a split emerged in the Portuguese military hierarchy over concessions made to dissident leftist soldiers.

    With new cracks appearing in ??? unity every day, the Council was expected to discuss the decision of the Army Commander, General Carlos Fabiao, to bow to the demands of leftist soldiers by re-opening a rebellious barracks in the northern town of Oporto.

    The dissidents occupied a nearby heavy artillery barracks for a week to press their demands. They have given General Fabiao until 24 October to prove that his promises were sincere.

    General Fabiao's decision to give way to the leftist rebels has aroused controversy in conservative army circles, who see it as undermining efforts to re-establish orthodox military discipline.

    The General's concession weakened the position of the Northern military region's tough commander, Brigadier Antonio Pires Veloso, whose policies were the target off the Oporto revolt.

    Military sources said the Brigadier had called a meeting of all local officers to gauge their reactions to General Fabiao's decision.

    The council's meeting followed a full Cabinet meeting the previous day at which the Government of Premier Jose Pinheiro de Azevedo discussed measures to improve Portugal's ailing economy.

    SYNOPSIS: Portugal's Military Forces Council of the Revolution met in Lisbon on Thursday as signs of a split emerged in the army. prime Minister de Azevedo and President Costa Gomes attended the important meeting, a day after a Cabinet meeting, a day after a Cabinet meeting to discuss the country's ailing economy. Army Commander General Carolos Fabiao is in the centre of the military controversy. He has recently bowed to the demands of leftist soldiers by reopening a rebellious barracks in the northern city of Oporto. This suits the wishes of radical Admiral Antonio Countinho -- but weakens the position of tough Northern military commander Brigadier Veloso. New cracks are appearing in Portugal's army units each day.
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