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Anti-government protests spring up across Spain
Madrid, Mar 14: Anti-government protesters took to the streets across Spain yesterday night, on the eve of a general election, demanding to know ``the truth`` behind rail bombs that killed 200 people in Madrid two days ago.
Madrid, Mar 14: Anti-government protesters took to the streets across Spain yesterday night, on the eve of a general election, demanding to know ''the truth'' behind rail bombs that killed 200 people in Madrid two days ago.
Witnesses in Madrid and other major cities reported protesters gathering in squares, shouting slogans like ''don't manipulate our dead'', and banging pots and pans to denounce the ruling popular party of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar.
The demonstrations followed the Spanish government's announcement that it has arrested five people, some possibly linked to Moroccan militants, for the train bombs in Madrid.
Many of the protesters slammed the government for initially saying the prime suspect was Basque separatist group Eta.
''This is a dictatorship'' protesters shouted in Madrid. ''Before we vote, we want the truth.'' More than 5,000 crowded round the PP's headquarters in Madrid, flanked by riot police. ''It's a technical coup D'etat if a government retains information. That's not playing clean,'' a 32-year-old engineer, who gave his name as Rafa, said in Madrid.
In Spain's second city Barcelona, thousands took to the streets or their balconies, banging pots in the style of anti-war protests during the US-led invasion of Iraq last year.
In Bilbao, in the northern Basque region, hundreds were also demonstrating. In Santiago De Compostela, in the northwestern Galicia province, thousands were on the streets, witnesses said.
The protests were taking place on a day that was supposed to be dedicated to ''reflection'' -- with political activities banned due to the proximity of the election.
Campaigning had been stopped anyway after Thursday's attacks.
The government's election candidate Mariano Rajoy turned up at PP headquarters in Madrid to denounce the protest. ''It is illegal and illegitimate,'' he told reporters.
Bureau Report
The demonstrations followed the Spanish government's announcement that it has arrested five people, some possibly linked to Moroccan militants, for the train bombs in Madrid.
Many of the protesters slammed the government for initially saying the prime suspect was Basque separatist group Eta.
''This is a dictatorship'' protesters shouted in Madrid. ''Before we vote, we want the truth.'' More than 5,000 crowded round the PP's headquarters in Madrid, flanked by riot police. ''It's a technical coup D'etat if a government retains information. That's not playing clean,'' a 32-year-old engineer, who gave his name as Rafa, said in Madrid.
In Spain's second city Barcelona, thousands took to the streets or their balconies, banging pots in the style of anti-war protests during the US-led invasion of Iraq last year.
In Bilbao, in the northern Basque region, hundreds were also demonstrating. In Santiago De Compostela, in the northwestern Galicia province, thousands were on the streets, witnesses said.
The protests were taking place on a day that was supposed to be dedicated to ''reflection'' -- with political activities banned due to the proximity of the election.
Campaigning had been stopped anyway after Thursday's attacks.
The government's election candidate Mariano Rajoy turned up at PP headquarters in Madrid to denounce the protest. ''It is illegal and illegitimate,'' he told reporters.
Bureau Report