Spain

Ten-man Sevilla second after comeback win in La Coruna

Ten-man Sevilla second after comeback win in La CorunaMadrid  - Sevilla moved up to second in the Spanish Liga on Saturday with a dramatic 3-1 comeback win away to sixth-placed Deportivo Coruna.

Sevilla turned the tables thanks to goals from Luis Fabiano, Renato and Diego Capel - and despite the sending-off of Enzo Maresca.

"This was a really important win for us," said Renato, "given how it happened."

Sevilla now have 35 points from 18 games, nine points less than record-breaking leaders Barcelona, who are away to bottom team Osasuna on Sunday.

Acquittals of Islamists raise security concerns in Spain

Acquittals of Islamists raise security concerns in SpainMadrid  - Spain's National Court has acquitted three Islamist extremist suspects of financing the al-Qaeda terrorist network, media reported recently.

Those acquitted included Syrian-born Imad Eddin Barakat Yarkas, known as Abu Dahdah, who is serving a 12-year sentence on the separate charge of having headed an al-Qaeda cell in Spain.

Abu Dahdah was initially handed 15 more years for helping to prepare the attacks of September 11, 2001, in the United States, but the Supreme Court found that there was not enough evidence to support that charge.

Spanish fashion designer Armand Basi dies

Spanish fashion designer Armand Basi diesBarcelona  - Spanis

A million descendants of exiled Spaniards may seek nationality

SpainMadrid - More than a million descendants of Spaniards who went into exile during the 1936-39 civil war or the 36-year dictatorship of General Francisco Franco could be eligible to seek Spanish nationality, the Foreign Ministry said Friday.

That possibility is based on a 2007 law seeking to redress the wrongs suffered by the leftist losers of the war, which was won by Franco. The period for applications opened on December 28.

Abreu joins fallen giants Real Sociedad

Sebastian AbreuMadrid - Uruguayan striker Sebastian Abreu has agreed to join Spanish second division side Real Sociedad from Argentina's River Plate, the Spanish club said Friday.

Abreu, 32, has agreed to a six-month contract with the Basque club, with the option for it to be extended until June 2010. He is due to fly in to San Sebastian on Friday evening for medical checks.

The striker, known as the "madman" because of his eccentric mannerisms, has played for 15 different clubs in a colourful career.

He was signed by Liga club Deportivo Coruna in 1998 but hardly managed to get a game for the Galicians.

Snow affects flights, creates huge traffic jams in Madrid

Snow affects flights, creates huge traffic jams in Madrid Madrid - Heavy snowfall hampered traffic in several parts of Spain on Friday, forcing Madrid's Barajas airport to suspend flights temporarily and creating kilometres-long traffic jams in the capital.

Airport operating company AENA said flights would be resumed as soon as possible at the airport, which has also been affected by an alleged unofficial work to rule stoppage by pilots of the main Spanish airline Iberia.

Several roads leading to Madrid were cut off.

Pages