Spain's Socialists reject U.S. charges of terror appeasement over troops

[Barrett808]

Spain's Socialists reject U.S. charges of terror appeasement over troops
Thu Mar 18, 1:55 PM ET
ED MCCULLOUGH

MADRID, Spain (AP) - Leaders of parties that opposed the Iraq war fended off claims Thursday that Spain may be appeasing terrorists by planning to pull its peacekeeping troops out in the wake of the Madrid bombings.

The planned withdrawal is "not a result of improvisation and even less a consequence" of the March 11 attack that killed 201 people, said Jesus Caldera, former Socialist parliamentary spokesman.

A Spanish withdrawal could help tip the balance toward "full respect for international law" and lead to the United Nations taking control in the Middle East country, added Caldera, who is expected to get a top post in prime minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's government.

The upset winner in elections Sunday that were shaken by the bombings three days earlier, Zapatero campaigned on pledges to pull Spain's 1,300 troops out by June 30 unless the United Nations takes charge in Iraq.

In recent days, he called the occupation a "fiasco" and the U.S.-led war a "disaster."

The planned withdrawal enjoys widespread support in Spain even as it draws criticism from U.S. legislators and allies.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=cpress/spain_politics

[Moderator]

1. Not LBN

This story is from yesterday, so it will have to be locked. Please feel free to repost in appropriate forum.