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In what was seen by many as a somewhat extraordinary turn of events, Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, appearing before a Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee in Madrid, stated yesterday that in his opinion the terror groups Hezbollah and Hamas were responsible for the current Middle East crisis. He also called for an end to the hostilities and violence, but refused to state whether Spanish armed forces would be included in any possible international peacekeeping force that is to be sent to the area. This stance was immediately hailed by Israeli Ambassador Victor Harel, who called the Minister’s remarks ‘wise’. Also pleased with the turn of events was Gustavo de Aristegui, the Partido Popular’s Foreign Policy spokesman, who also praised the foreign ministry for their ‘efficient evacuation’ of all Spaniards from the area.
Meanwhile, after a meeting of the Socialist Youth Movement that took place this afternoon in Alicante, the Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was photographed with a Palestinian headscarf around his neck and stated that Israel was making 'an abortive attempt' to do away with Hezbollah. Gustavo de Aristegui stated that the Socialists are barbarously ignorant of the real situation or either choose to deliberately ignore it'. He went on: "This is one more reason why Spain is now so far behind on the international stage."
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Ignacio Cosido, the Partido Popular spokesman on Internal Affairs, yesterday demanded that the government ‘immediately break off any talks’ with Basque terror group Eta. He made these remarks after the Navarran Business Association formally announced that several of its members had received threatening letters demanding money from the terror group. Mr. Cosido added: “These letters represent a form of terrorism and clearly show that Eta is maintaining its criminal activities.” These new letter come on top of the re-appearance of Eta-sponsored street violence with an attack on an academy in Vitoria. Neither the letters or the attack have been publicly condemned by the Prime Minister.
A wedding reception turned into tragedy in Villena yesterday, when at 3 am, a neighbour, exasperated by the high level of noise the reception was causing, took his shotgun and fired at the bridegroom who was singing on his balcony, resulting in the 21-year-old dying one hour later. His brother-in-law, who also received a shot in the groin, is in a local hospital in a serious condition. Immediately on the scene, the Guardia civil arrested the man who had fired the shots
The Guardia Civil yesterday arrested 36-year-old Irishman Tony Armstrong, implying that he was involved with the deaths of two fellow Irishmen whose bodies were uncovered in Catral yesterday. Sources stated that Armstrong had rented the warehouse where the bodies of Shane Coates and Stephen Sugg were discovered yesterday. A forensic examination yesterday appeared to reveal that both men had been shot in the head from a short distance, but several other tests still have to be carried out.
The Benicassim Music Festival or FIB will open its doors today at 10 pm. The evening will begin with a performance by DJ Aldo Linares, and end at 3 am with a set by the Scissor Sisters. The Spanish branch of MTV is fully covering the event in real time as well as with a daily summary programme.
The Israeli Army yesterday launched a ground offensive inside Lebanon aimed at rooting out Hezbollah guerillas who had set up positions close to the border. However, members of Hezbollah appeared to have been tipped off, and in the ensuing attack two soldiers were killed and nine injured, which one guerrilla also died. Israeli military sources stated that the incursion does in no way imply that a full-scale invasion was under way, and that the army was attacking specific targets.
Meanwhile the office of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has made it clear through diplomatic channels that there was a threat that Syria would be attacked if it continued to facilitate arms transfers from its borders to Hezbollah units operating in Lebanon. Israel is believed to have photographic evidence of these transfers, and a formal request was also made to Egypt to pass on the warning to Syrian President Bashir al Assad. Also yesterday, the Israeli Air Force attacked to Hezbollah-bound trucks carrying weapons and ammunition, whilst another truck carrying long-range Iranian-made Zilzal rockets was also destroyed with one rocket flying into the air as a result of the force of the explosive blast
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For the second time in as many days, Java yesterday shook under the effects of an earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale. This followed on from an earlier quake that took place at sea, causing a huge Tsunami that killed 525 people, injured 382 and affected 38,000. Some 273 people are still missing and with a lack of any sort of equipment, local officials are digging with their bare hands to try and find more survivors.
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