MADRID BOMBERS ON HUNGER STRIKE

Last week, 14 of the 20 defendants on trial for the 2004 Madrid train bombings, which killed 191 people and injured more than 1800, started a hunger strike last week but Judge Javier Gomez Bermudez ruled out any suspension of the trial, which began in February. It is expected to continue for at least five months. The alleged masterminds of the bombings are among those on hunger strike: Rabei Osman - known as Mohamed the Egyptian, Youssef Belhadj and Hassan el-Haski. They are protesting over what they call the unjust accusations against them. Seven key suspects, including Mr Belhadj and Mr Haski, face charges of murder and belonging to a terrorist group. Twenty-two others face lesser terror-linked charges including collaborating with a terrorist group and handling explosives. Eleven of them are from Morocco, eight from Spain and one each from Algeria, Syria and Lebanon.