Millions take to the streets in Spain

Published: 13 March 2004 y., Saturday
Thousands of people crowd a central square in the northern Basque city of Pamplona Friday March 12, 2004, during a demonstration to protest the numerous bomb attacks on trains in Madrid Thursday that killed nealy 200 people and injured at least another 1,400. (AP Photo/Jon Dimis) MADRID, Spain -- More than a million demonstrators jammed the streets of Madrid on Friday night, huddling beneath umbrellas in a steady rain to protest the train bombings that killed 199 people in the country's worst terrorist attack. Millions more turned out in Barcelona, Seville, Valencia and other cities - including Spain's Canary Islands off the coast of West Africa. Spanish officials initially blamed the Basque separatist group ETA for the stunningly well-coordinated series of 10 explosions Thursday during Madrid's rush hour. Later, they said they were studying a claim of responsibility by a shadowy group in the name of al-Qaida. A caller claiming to represent ETA telephoned the pro-Basque daily newspaper Gara and said the separatist group "has no responsibility whatsoever" for the attacks, the paper told The Associated Press. ETA often issues statements through the Basque-language paper. Arnaldo Otegi, a top Basque politician, also denied ETA was involved and accused Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's outgoing government of "lying deliberately" about the bombing to seek political advantage in the elections.
Šaltinis: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.

Facebook Comments

New comment


Captcha

Associated articles

The most popular articles

Moscow metro's 75th anniversary

75 years after Moscow first opened its underground train system, Muscovites can ride a restored vintage train. more »

„Mountain tsunami“ threatens Bhutan

A glacier melt threatens to cause massive flooding and destroy a centuries old monastic fortress in the remote country of Bhutan. more »

Ending homophobia – stopping discrimination

What do countries as geographically diverse as Saudi Arabia, Uganda and Jamaica have in common? All of them criminalised homosexuality. more »

Human rights in the world – taking stock of 2009

Human rights is a key issue for the European Parliament and MEPs Monday took a first look at what the European Union did last year, when they discussed the EU annual report on human rights in the world. more »

Mercury fears in Japanese town

Researchers found high levels of mecury in a Japenese dolphin-hunting town, but say the mecury has no ill effects. more »

Pro-marijuana march in Mexico City

Crowds of Mexicans marched peacefully through the capital city on Saturday demanding the legalisation of marijuana. more »

Pets help prisoners

Prisoners are reported to have dramatic improvements in behaviour after pets are introduced in a new scheme. more »

Hat at centre of fur ban debate

Israeli Ultra-Orthodox MPs are lining up against activists proposing a total ban on furs, saying traditional fur hats are an important part of their religious tradition. more »

MEPs call for binding social protection for self-employed women and wives

EU Member States should organise social protection, including at least 14 weeks' maternity allowance, for self-employed women and self-employed men's wives or life partners, in accordance with national laws, said the Women's Rights Committee on Tuesday. more »

New media, new conversations, a new look EU?

How are the European Parliament, the European Commission and other parts of the European Union supposed to interest people and explain their work? more »