SPANIARDS STUNNED BY DEATHS OF INTELLIGENCE AGENTS IN IRAQ

Spaniards have been in mourning since learning of the deaths of seven intelligence agents who were ambushed and killed near Zuwaira, 30 kilometres southeast of Baghdad, on Saturday afternoon. The plain clothes agents were returning in two unmarked cars from an intelligence operation when they came under fire. A witness said the men were believed to be "CIA agents". US soldiers rescued the bodies from Saddam supporters at the scene, who were jumping on them, shouting "Long live Saddam". Only one agent, José Manuel Sánchez Riera, survived and is being treated in hospital for "slight" wounds. King Juan Carlos joined President José María Aznar and other political leaders in expressing their deepest grief and condolences for the men's families, while Defence Minister Federico Trillo flew to Iraq on Sunday to bring the bodies back home. Spain firmly supports for the US-led coalition forces in Iraq, but Saturday's attack has also caused consternation in government circles. The country had been dreading such an incident since 19 Italian soldiers were killed in Iraq earlier this month, and the attack only confirms the opinion of the majority of Spaniards who believe that Spain's 1,300 peacekeepers have no business in Iraq at all. That feeling could only have been reinforced by television images of burnt bodies by the road, surrounded by jubilant crowds.