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Socialists Score Spectacular Spanish Election Win
MADRID (Reuters) - Spanish voters swept the center-right government from power on Sunday in a spectacular general election upset over last week's suspected al Qaeda attack in Madrid.
The ruling Popular Party (PP) conceded defeat to Socialist leader Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who will take over from outgoing Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, a staunch supporter of the U.S.-led war in Iraq that most Spaniards opposed.
"My most immediate priority is to beat all forms of terrorism," said Zapatero, asking for a minute's silence in honor of the 200 people killed in the bombings on four packed commuter trains.
Voters, many wearing the black ribbon symbols of national grief since Thursday's attack, turned out in large numbers amid an angry debate over who was behind the train bombings -- Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda or Basque separatists.
Analysts had warned that the PP, which had been opinion poll favorite, could be hit if voters believed a purported fresh al Qaeda claim that the group had mounted its first attack in Europe and in reprisal for Spain's support for the Iraq war.
"PAID THE PRICE"
"The government has paid the price for its involvement in the war in Iraq, for Aznar's relationship with (U.S. President George) W. Bush and (British Prime Minister) Tony Blair. The vote has been a reaction to this," said Carlos Berzosa, rector of Madrid's Complutense University.
Official results showed the Socialists leading the PP by 42.7 percent to 37.7 percent with 96 percent of votes counted.
This would give the Socialists 164 seats in parliament compared with the PP's 148, but short of an absolute majority of 176.
Some Spaniards were vitriolic in accusing Aznar of "manipulating" public opinion by spending three days blaming the bombings on the Basque separatist group ETA, despite its denials.
Aznar, retiring as prime minister and hailing a solid economy and greater clout for a country restored to the international mainstream three decades after Franco's dictatorship ended, had taken a tough line against ETA.
Protesters shouted "Liar" and "Get our troops out of Iraq" at the PP's leading candidate Mariano Rajoy when he voted.
The Socialists have pledged to withdraw Spain's 1,300 troops from Iraq if the U.N. does not take control by June 30 when Washington plans to hand power back to Iraqis. Opinion polls showed as many as 90 percent of Spaniards opposed the Iraq war.
In a high turnout, voters said they wanted to display unity for democracy after the worst guerilla attack in Europe since the 1988 Lockerbie bombing of a U.S. airliner killed 270 people.
Just hours before polling began, officials said a purported al Qaeda video had been found in a waste bin on the outskirts of Madrid and that three Moroccans and two Indians had been arrested in connection with the attack.
Interior Minister Angel Acebes told a news conference in the early hours a purported spokesman for al Qaeda had claimed responsibility for the bombings on the video.
Morocco identified its three detained citizens as Jamal Zougam, 30, an office worker, mechanic Mohamed Bekkali, 31, and Mohamed Chaoui, 34, a factory worker.
On the tape, a man speaking in Moroccan-accented Arabic said al Qaeda had retaliated for Spain's support for Washington.
"BLOOD WILL FLOW"
"If you don't stop your injustices, more blood will flow and these attacks are very little compared with what may happen with what you call terrorism," he said, according to a transcript in Spanish from the Interior Ministry. The tape was not released.
The man, who said he was speaking for Abu Dujan al Afgani whom he described as military spokesman of al Qaeda in Europe, referred to Iraq and Afghanistan where Spain has troops.
The caller noted the March 11 blasts occurred exactly two and a half years after the September 11 attacks on the United States.
A purported al Qaeda letter on Thursday also claimed the group was responsible for the 10 simultaneous bombings on the crowded trains.
ETA issued a second statement, made public on Sunday, denying any role. The size of the attack would be unprecedented in the group's three-decade armed campaign for independence.
Germany called on Sunday for an urgent meeting of European Union security chiefs as possible al Qaeda involvement in the Madrid bombings triggered alarm bells across the world.
From Paris to Warsaw, governments across Europe tightened security at borders, railways and airports.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&e=1&u=/nm/20040314/ts_nm/spain_explosions_dc
"My most immediate priority is to beat all forms of terrorism," said Zapatero, asking for a minute's silence in honor of the 200 people killed in the bombings on four packed commuter trains.
Voters, many wearing the black ribbon symbols of national grief since Thursday's attack, turned out in large numbers amid an angry debate over who was behind the train bombings -- Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda or Basque separatists.
Analysts had warned that the PP, which had been opinion poll favorite, could be hit if voters believed a purported fresh al Qaeda claim that the group had mounted its first attack in Europe and in reprisal for Spain's support for the Iraq war.
"PAID THE PRICE"
"The government has paid the price for its involvement in the war in Iraq, for Aznar's relationship with (U.S. President George) W. Bush and (British Prime Minister) Tony Blair. The vote has been a reaction to this," said Carlos Berzosa, rector of Madrid's Complutense University.
Official results showed the Socialists leading the PP by 42.7 percent to 37.7 percent with 96 percent of votes counted.
This would give the Socialists 164 seats in parliament compared with the PP's 148, but short of an absolute majority of 176.
Some Spaniards were vitriolic in accusing Aznar of "manipulating" public opinion by spending three days blaming the bombings on the Basque separatist group ETA, despite its denials.
Aznar, retiring as prime minister and hailing a solid economy and greater clout for a country restored to the international mainstream three decades after Franco's dictatorship ended, had taken a tough line against ETA.
Protesters shouted "Liar" and "Get our troops out of Iraq" at the PP's leading candidate Mariano Rajoy when he voted.
The Socialists have pledged to withdraw Spain's 1,300 troops from Iraq if the U.N. does not take control by June 30 when Washington plans to hand power back to Iraqis. Opinion polls showed as many as 90 percent of Spaniards opposed the Iraq war.
In a high turnout, voters said they wanted to display unity for democracy after the worst guerilla attack in Europe since the 1988 Lockerbie bombing of a U.S. airliner killed 270 people.
Just hours before polling began, officials said a purported al Qaeda video had been found in a waste bin on the outskirts of Madrid and that three Moroccans and two Indians had been arrested in connection with the attack.
Interior Minister Angel Acebes told a news conference in the early hours a purported spokesman for al Qaeda had claimed responsibility for the bombings on the video.
Morocco identified its three detained citizens as Jamal Zougam, 30, an office worker, mechanic Mohamed Bekkali, 31, and Mohamed Chaoui, 34, a factory worker.
On the tape, a man speaking in Moroccan-accented Arabic said al Qaeda had retaliated for Spain's support for Washington.
"BLOOD WILL FLOW"
"If you don't stop your injustices, more blood will flow and these attacks are very little compared with what may happen with what you call terrorism," he said, according to a transcript in Spanish from the Interior Ministry. The tape was not released.
The man, who said he was speaking for Abu Dujan al Afgani whom he described as military spokesman of al Qaeda in Europe, referred to Iraq and Afghanistan where Spain has troops.
The caller noted the March 11 blasts occurred exactly two and a half years after the September 11 attacks on the United States.
A purported al Qaeda letter on Thursday also claimed the group was responsible for the 10 simultaneous bombings on the crowded trains.
ETA issued a second statement, made public on Sunday, denying any role. The size of the attack would be unprecedented in the group's three-decade armed campaign for independence.
Germany called on Sunday for an urgent meeting of European Union security chiefs as possible al Qaeda involvement in the Madrid bombings triggered alarm bells across the world.
From Paris to Warsaw, governments across Europe tightened security at borders, railways and airports.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&e=1&u=/nm/20040314/ts_nm/spain_explosions_dc
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Spain's ruling Popular Party has suffered an unexpected defeat in the country's general election with almost all the votes counted.
The poll was overshadowed by claims that al-Qaeda carried out the Madrid bomb attacks that killed 200 people.
The Socialist's party Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is now set to become Spain's new prime minister, ending eight years of conservative rule.
"My immediate priority will be to fight all forms of terrorism," he said.
Congratulations
Mr Zapatero was - until Thursday's bombings - considered an outsider for Spain's top job.
But the Socialists won 42% of the vote while the centre-right Popular Party garnered 38%, according to official results.
A larger than expected 63% of the electorate turned out to vote,
Mariano Rajoy of the ruling Popular Party has congratulated the socialists on their victory.
"We will have the interests of Spain at heart," he said.
Analysts said people had turned out in bigger numbers than predicted in order to defy the bombers who carried out last Thursday's attacks.
Investigations continue into who was behind the bombings.
Aznar criticised
Initially, the government was adamant the Basque separatist organisation Eta was responsible for the bombings, but now it has been forced to admit that al-Qaeda has become the top suspect.
A videotaped claim of responsibility by a man identifying himself as al-Qaeda's military spokesman in Europe forced the government to change its stance.
The videotape was found in a litter bin on Saturday following an anonymous tip-off to a Madrid television station.
In the video, a man speaking Arabic with a Moroccan accent says the attacks were revenge for Spain's "collaboration with the criminals Bush and his allies".
A BBC correspondent in Madrid says criticism of the way government ministers handled the initial investigation into the attacks may have lost them the election.
"It's the first time I voted. I feel very happy because the government had to change... because of the Iraq war," a Spanish law student told the BBC.
Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio told the BBC Eta was still a strong suspect, and said police were not ruling out a possible collaboration between Eta and al-Qaeda.
Three Moroccans and two Indians are being held in connection with the attacks.
Germany has called an urgent meeting of EU interior ministers to discuss the situation.
Duty to vote
Black ribbons hung from polling booths and voters' lapels on Sunday.
Cayetano Abad, one of the 1,500 wounded in last Thursday's attacks, was driven to a polling station in an ambulance.
I've come to show that everything carries on, that we cannot stand idle," he said, bandaged and wearing a neck brace.
Many people admitted they had not planned to vote until the bombings.
"I have two friends who have never voted in their lives and they're going to vote in this one," said 41-year-old businessman Carlos Bermudez.
Outgoing Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and his wife were booed and jostled as they arrived to cast their votes.
As he tried to address supporters, he was drowned out by cries of "manipulators", "liars" and "peace".
The Spanish government backed the US-led invasion of Iraq last year despite polls showing 90% opposition to it from the Spanish public.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3511280.stm
The poll was overshadowed by claims that al-Qaeda carried out the Madrid bomb attacks that killed 200 people.
The Socialist's party Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is now set to become Spain's new prime minister, ending eight years of conservative rule.
"My immediate priority will be to fight all forms of terrorism," he said.
Congratulations
Mr Zapatero was - until Thursday's bombings - considered an outsider for Spain's top job.
But the Socialists won 42% of the vote while the centre-right Popular Party garnered 38%, according to official results.
A larger than expected 63% of the electorate turned out to vote,
Mariano Rajoy of the ruling Popular Party has congratulated the socialists on their victory.
"We will have the interests of Spain at heart," he said.
Analysts said people had turned out in bigger numbers than predicted in order to defy the bombers who carried out last Thursday's attacks.
Investigations continue into who was behind the bombings.
Aznar criticised
Initially, the government was adamant the Basque separatist organisation Eta was responsible for the bombings, but now it has been forced to admit that al-Qaeda has become the top suspect.
A videotaped claim of responsibility by a man identifying himself as al-Qaeda's military spokesman in Europe forced the government to change its stance.
The videotape was found in a litter bin on Saturday following an anonymous tip-off to a Madrid television station.
In the video, a man speaking Arabic with a Moroccan accent says the attacks were revenge for Spain's "collaboration with the criminals Bush and his allies".
A BBC correspondent in Madrid says criticism of the way government ministers handled the initial investigation into the attacks may have lost them the election.
"It's the first time I voted. I feel very happy because the government had to change... because of the Iraq war," a Spanish law student told the BBC.
Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio told the BBC Eta was still a strong suspect, and said police were not ruling out a possible collaboration between Eta and al-Qaeda.
Three Moroccans and two Indians are being held in connection with the attacks.
Germany has called an urgent meeting of EU interior ministers to discuss the situation.
Duty to vote
Black ribbons hung from polling booths and voters' lapels on Sunday.
Cayetano Abad, one of the 1,500 wounded in last Thursday's attacks, was driven to a polling station in an ambulance.
I've come to show that everything carries on, that we cannot stand idle," he said, bandaged and wearing a neck brace.
Many people admitted they had not planned to vote until the bombings.
"I have two friends who have never voted in their lives and they're going to vote in this one," said 41-year-old businessman Carlos Bermudez.
Outgoing Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and his wife were booed and jostled as they arrived to cast their votes.
As he tried to address supporters, he was drowned out by cries of "manipulators", "liars" and "peace".
The Spanish government backed the US-led invasion of Iraq last year despite polls showing 90% opposition to it from the Spanish public.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3511280.stm
Translation: "The bombs that fell on Iraq are exploding in Madrid."
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