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SPANISH NEWS

Marisol Yague, the former Mayoress of Marbella, along with her deputy, Isabel Garcia Marcos and former Transport Councillor Victoriano Rodriguez, all of whom had been in jail since last April, were released late last night after posting bail totalling 60,000 Euros. As they left the prison at Alhaurin de la Torre, only Mrs Garcia Marcos would make any statement to the press, referring to herself as ‘a political prisoner’. All three have had their passports taken away and must report to a Marbella judge twice a month.

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In what has been seen by many as more of an exercise in politics that a television entertainment, Iñaki Gabilondo, who used to be one of the stars of the pro-Socialist radio station Cadena SER last night undertook the first of his new series of interviews for the television station Cuatro. It only took one question for Mr. Gabilondo to start a series of aggressive questions to Mariano Rajoy, the leader of the Partido Popular, that began with: “Who rules inside the Partido Popular, is it you, (former Prime Minister) Jose Maria Aznar or (political radio show host) Federico Jimenez Losantos?” From that point onwards, the interview became extremely tense due in no small part to the attitude adopted by Mr. Gabilondo, who seemed at times to be like a Prime Minister indulging in a political debate. When the interview turned to questions over the March 11 bombings, Mr Gabilondo brought out a list of names of members of the PP whom he said ‘were advancing the theory of a coup d’etat’. Now clearly upset by the attacks on both himself and the PP, Mr. Rajoy responded that he could not accept that theory.

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Tension also spilled over yesterday in parliament when Partido Popular spokesman Eduardo Zaplana asked deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega to tell the truth about a possible pact that was in the offing between the Government and the PP over immigration. In response, Miss Fernandez de la Vega screamed: “I will not tolerate you accusing me of lying! I will not tolerate it! I demand that you respect me and the millions of people who voted for us! This government is always at work! Always”. Mr. Zaplana attempted to calm her down by gently stating that he simply failed to see how the country could function when an Industry minister was a candidate in autonomous elections, a minister of Health has eyes on another job, a Justice minister refuses to resign, a social services minister is noticeably absent. Her response was to answer in a voice shaking with rage: “I am not angry, do not be confused. What I demand is respect.”

Earlier, Mr. Zaplana has asked Interior minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba a series of questions about the latest media revelations on the March 11 bombings. Rather than answer directly, Mr Perez Rubalcaba launched into a series of attacks on the media that had published the stories.

THE DAY THE RAINS CAME

The Provinces of Valencia and Castellon were the worst hit by the recent torrential rains that in some cases lest 100 litres per square metre, causing problems in various municipalities, but above all disrupting rail traffic. If on Tuesday the rail service RENFE had a n umber of incidents to deal with, yesterday they were obliged to cancel three EuroMed Express trains between Valencia and Barcelona, affecting some 900 passengers who were offered options of travelling by bus, travelling on another day or getting a refund. Wednesday’s cancellations followed on from Tuesday’s problems that saw a EuroMed train travel between Valencia and Barcelona, taking 14 hours for a journey that normally only takes three.

CASE TO BE HEARD

The constitutional Court of Spain stated yesterday that it will hear a case presented by the autonomies of Aragon and Castilla/La Mancha, who have lodged a case against the new Valencian Statutes claiming that they are unconstitutional. The case presented by the two autonomies is based on a clause in the new Valencian Statutes to the effect that the excess water from both areas be sent to the Valencian Community. In stating that it will hear the case, the Constitutional Court revealed that it also expects to hear testimony from a select committee of the Madrid parliament, the Madrid Senate, the Socialist Government and the Valencian Parliament. Commenting on the case as p[resented, Victor Campos, the Deputy President of the Valencian Community stated that this ‘ was just one more case of the Zapatero Government trying to seek confrontation between different autonomies without any real justification’.

RATIFICATION DEMANDED

The prosecutor in the case against Carlos Pascual, the former Mayor of Pego, yesterday demanded that the Alicante Supreme Court ratify its decision to send the former mayor to jail for six years for causing ‘considerable ecological damage’ to the Pego-Oliva marshes. According to the case that is currently under appeal by Mr. Pascual, between 1996 and 1998 the former mayor ordered certain vegetation to be burned in the marshes, which were declared a Natural Park in 1994. He also apparently ordered the water levels to be reduced and encouraged the building of tracks in order to help with the cultivation of rice.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

According to the Montreal police, an armed man entered Dawson University yesterday, and started firing randomly, killing at least two people and wounding 19. Police sources added that a shootout began after the man who was dressed in military fatigues, started opening fire in the cafeteria. However versions differ over the final outcome, with some sources stating that the man turned the gun on himself, whilst others state that he was shot by the police, who are still searching the university grounds for any possible accomplices.

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