Spanish political parties have condemned the killing of a Spanish senator in an attack blamed on the Basque separatist group ETA, which analysts said was timed to intimidate voters ahead of next weekend's Basque elections.
Politicians from all parties, except the Euskal Herritarrok (EH) coalition -widely considered ETA's political wing - suspended campaigning today to mourn the senator.
Manuel Gimenez Abad (52) was shot twice in the head by a masked attacker yesterday as he walked to a soccer stadium with his son to watch a first division match in the centre of Zaragoza, capital of the northern Aragon region.
Paramedics tried unsuccessfully to revive the politician, who had no security escort. The attacker fled on foot.
Spain's Prime Minister Mr Jose Maria Aznar was among thousands of mourners at the funeral in Jaca in northern Spain.
The victim had been Aragon leader of Mr Aznar's ruling Popular Party. Interior minister Mr Mariano Rajoy and representatives of most political parties also attended the service at Jaca Cathedral.
A crowd outside applauded most of the political figures in attendance. But they booed and whistled their disapproval of Mr Juan Josi Ibarretxe, premier of the Basque country and a moderate Basque nationalist whom critics consider not firm enough in dealing with extremism.
No one has claimed responsibility for the killing of Mr Gimenez but police say they suspect ETA.
The new attack comes amid fierce campaigning for the May 13 regional elections in the Basque country.
Opinion polls published yesterday predicted gains for the two major Madrid-based parties, the PP and the Socialist Party, at the expense of the moderate Basque Nationalist Party, which has been in power since 1980 in the largely autonomous region.
The Popular Party (PP) and the Socialists have signed a pact to fight ETA, and if their coalition wins the election, it would be the first time the Basque country has been ruled by the Madrid-based parties alone since the death of former dictator General Francisco Franco.
AFP