Madrid - Spain's decision to withdraw its peacekeepers from Kosovo was Friday expected to be followed by an increase of Spanish troops in Afghanistan, press reports said.

Spain could increase its contingent of nearly 800 soldiers in Afghanistan with up to 500 more, senior military sources were quoted by the daily El Mundo as saying.

Madrid  - Barcelona intend to maintain their six-point lead over historic rivals Real Madrid on Sunday, by beating ambitious Malaga at home.

Easier said than done, really. Malaga are the surprise package of the Spanish season, in sixth place and dreaming of Europe.

Veteran Malaga striker Salva - who helped Valencia win the title in 2001 - said on Wednesday that "no game is impossible... we must be valiant, and make as few mistakes as possible."

Madrid - A debate was under way Tuesday in Spain over an anti-abortion campaign launched by the country's Catholic Church, which said the rights of plants and animals were protected better than those of unborn children.

The Bishops' Conference on Monday announced a "massive mobilization" against a more liberal abortion law which is being prepared by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's socialist government.

Madrid - Real Madrid midfielder Ruben de la Red could be suffering from the heart condition myocarditis, according to sports daily AS on Tuesday.

Myocarditis, a serious heart problem, is inflammation of the myocardium, the muscular part of the heart. It may cause chest pain, rapid signs of heart failure, or sudden death.

Madrid - Spain is to open up archives from the era of the Franco dictatorship, the daily El Pais reported on Monday.

The country's Defence Ministry will open its military judicial archives from the era of right-wing leader Francisco Franco (1939-75) to the public.

The measure was expected to make it easier for the families of Franco's victims to seek the judicial annulment of sentences handed down after summary trials.

Madrid  - Thousands of Spaniards in Barcelona on Sunday took to the streets to protest mass layoffs and unemployment, in the first such protests against the government of socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero since the onset of the global financial crisis.

Around 15,000 people took part in the protest, according to press reports. Unions that had organized the rally put the number of protesters at 50,000.

In Madrid, meanwhile thousands of police officers took to the streets to demand better pay. Organizers said around 25,000 members of the national police force took part. The Interior Ministry said there were 7,000 participants.