Aznar called to testify at Madrid bombing probe

Former Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has been summoned before a parliamentary commission investigating the Madrid train bombings to give his version of the most devastating attack in modern Spanish history.

"The commission has decided unanimously that Aznar should appear," Uxue Barkos of the Nafarroa Bai party, a representative on the commission, told reporters yesterday.

Mr Aznar is the first former prime minister to be called before a parliamentary commission, according to Spanish media.

No date was set for Mr Aznar, a former close ally of US President George W. Bush, to testify. Ten bombs exploded aboard four commuter trains on March 11, killing 191 people three days before a general election.

Many Spaniards believe the election result was swayed by Mr Aznar initially putting the blame for the attacks on Basque separatist guerillas ETA when evidence pointed to Islamic militants.

The commission, which decided last week to extend its inquiry, said it would call other witnesses, including European Union Justice and Home Affairs Commissioner Antonio Vitorino and Spain's former Security Secretary Ignacio Astarloa.

News that Mr Aznar would testify came as police in the northeastern city of Barcelona arrested 10 people, mostly Pakistanis, in early morning raids.