National News New Spanish prime minister to withdraw troops from Iraq

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MADRID (AP) - Spain's newly elected prime minister pledged March 15 to bring Spanish troops home from Iraq unless the United Nations takes control there.

Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's Socialists swept Spain's ruling conservatives from power in elections March 14 that were overshadowed by earlier terrorist bombings.

In contrast to the previous government under Jose Maria Aznar, which had backed Washington in Iraq, Zapatero had only harsh words for the war in Iraq and the U.S.-led occupation.

"It divided more than it united, there were no reasons for it. Time has shown that the arguments for it lacked credibility and the occupation has been managed badly," he said, adding that Spain's commitment of troops to Iraq was "an error."

The election was held amid charges that Aznar made Spain a target for terrorists by supporting the war, and that his government concealed possible connections between the bombings and Islamic terrorists for political gain.

The train bombings March 11 killed 202 people and wounded 1,600.

Police suspect at least six Moroccans of taking part in the train bombings, and further evidence has turned the investigation's focus increasingly toward Islamic militants possibly linked to al-Qaeda.

スペイン軍がイラク撤退へ

スペイン総選挙で勝利した社会労働党のサパテロ書記長は15日、イラクに展開しているスペイン軍を撤退させる意向を表明した。

Shukan ST: March 26, 2004

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