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MADRID (Reuters) - Millions of Spaniards chanting "Killers" took to the streets on Friday to protest against the Madrid bombings that killed nearly 200 people, as Basque separatist group ETA rejected government charges of blame.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and EU President Romano Prodi joined Spanish leaders and royal family members at the head of a march in Madrid in a huge show of unity a day after the bombs ripped through four packed commuter trains.
ETA said it was not responsible for the blasts that also wounded nearly 1,500 people, but Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar said the group remained the focus of inquiry.
"An ETA message has arrived saying that it bore no responsibility for the attack," ETB Basque public television reported.
Fears that Muslim militants linked to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda might have been behind Thursday's coordinated bombings put security forces on alert across Europe and beyond.
A six-and-a-half-month-old baby girl died in hospital on Friday, taking the official death toll to 199 in what Spanish media have dubbed "Our September 11."
Aznar, who has taken a tough line against ETA, said Spain would go ahead with a general election on Sunday, although the country is in an official state of mourning.
AZNAR ACCUSES ETA
"No line of investigation will be ruled out," Aznar told reporters, but he cited recent foiled ETA plots and intelligence suggesting the group was aiming at transport targets.
"What did this terrorist organization want when they tried to enter Madrid last week with 500 kilos of explosives? It's a line of investigation any Spanish government that hasn't lost its head has to follow. It's the one we are following and if there are other hypotheses, we'll follow them too."
Many analysts say any proven ETA involvement in the bombings would likely benefit the ruling center-right Popular Party in Sunday's election because of its tough stance on the group. Continued ...