RICE VISIT SPARKS DEMO

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a her first lightning visit to Madrid last Friday for talks with Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos to restore ties between the two countries which have been frosty since Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero withdrew Spanish troops from Iraq after he won the March 2004 election. But disagreements remain, notably over Cuba. While Ms Rice was visiting King Juan Carlos, Sr Zapatero and Opposition leader Mariano Rajoy, the Spanish government was holding talks with Cuba on human rights on the island. When Sr Moratinos assured reporters at a press conference that he believed the US would one day agree with Spain's policy on Cuba, Ms Rice was heard to mutter: "Don't hold your breath." Apart from Cuba, the US has expressed anger about an arms deal between Spain and Venezuela's leader, Hugo Chavez, a man the US regards as a destabilising force in Latin America. Meanwhile, Spanish Defence Minister Jose Antonio Alonso complained about "indiscriminate bombardment" carried out by US and Afghan forces, that killed civilians in Afghanistan. Ms Rice blamed Taleban militants for hiding among civilian populations. She also said she would like to see Nato allies do more in Afghanistan, "and Spain is included in that list". A `policeman cuts the chains of youths dressed like prisoners at the US military base in Guatanamo, Cuba. They had chained themselves to the fountain in Plaza Cibeles to protest Ms Rice's visit to Madrid.