Gibraltar/Madrid  - Britain's Princess Anne on Thursday inaugurated a military hospital in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar in an act that irritated Spain, Spanish media reported.

The hospital was located in a border area the sovereignty over which was unclear, Jose Carracao of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's Socialist Party was quoted as saying.

Already in January, Spain protested to the British embassy in Madrid about the royal visit, describing it as "inopportune."

Madrid - Wind, rain and snow hit Spain on Thursday, with winds blowing at more than 110 kilometres per hour causing widespread damage in Spain's north African enclave of Ceuta, local officials said.

Wind gusts tore off roofs, uprooted trees and knocked over lamp posts. At least one family was evacuated from home.

In the enclave of Melilla to the east of Ceuta, winds caused the partial collapse of the frontier wall separating Melilla from Morocco.

Bilbao, Spain  - Talks to form a new government began Thursday in the Basque region of northern Spain, with Basque nationalists trying to hold onto power despite socialist success in Sunday's elections.

The Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), which seeks greater autonomy from Spain, took the most votes, but did not get a sufficient majority to form a government with its former nationalist allies.

Madrid  - Florentino Perez does not speak, but he lets others do it for him - so much so that one gets the impression that his "entourage" is carrying out his campaign for the Real Madrid presidency, even if he has not even said he is a candidate.

Ramon Calderon resigned as club president on January 16, and since then a new electoral process is open at Real Madrid.

Madrid  - Barcelona edged past Mallorca late Wednesday in a dull Spanish King's Cup semi-final second leg and will meet euphoric Athletic Bilbao in the final.

Out-of-form Barca drew 1-1 at Mallorca and go into the final on a 3-1 aggregate, having beaten the islanders 2-0 in the first leg four weeks ago in the Camp Nou.

Earlier Wednesday, Bilbao powered their way into their first final since 1985 by thrashing dull Sevilla 3-0, to go through on a 4-2 aggregate.

Madrid  - Athletic Bilbao powered their way into the Spanish King'