SPAIN ARRESTS 14 TERROR SUSPECTS!

Spain is still haunted by the Madrid bombings - carried out by Islamists. Spanish authorities have arrested 14 people suspected of having links to Islamist terror groups. The Civil Guard detained the suspects in Barcelona as part of a joint operation with Spain's National Intelligence Centre (CNI).

Several premises were searched and, as the operation is ongoing, more arrests have not been ruled out. Spain suffered at the hands of Islamist militants in 2004 when 191 people were killed in the Madrid train bombings.

Most of the 21 people convicted of the attacks were found to have been part of a local Islamist militant group inspired by al-Qaeda, but not part of that organisation.

Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba is expected to hold a news conference on the latest arrests at 1130GMT.

The BBC's Steve Kingstone, in Madrid, says domestic security will be a key issue in the run-up to Spain's general election, in two months time.

The governing Socialist Party says that, during its four-year term of office, 300 Islamist militants have been arrested.
BBC NEWS REPORT.