Madrid - Former Spanish prime minister Jose Maria Aznar has denied denigrating US president elect Barack Obama when describing his victory as "historic exoticism and a predictable economic disaster," press reports said Friday.

Aznar issued a communique Thursday announcing possible legal action against those who had "deliberately misinterpreted" his comments to the Spanish edition of Vanity Fair magazine.

The interview prompted Socialist deputy leader Jose Blanco to refer to Aznar as a "reactionary person" with "racist roots."

Madrid - Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero talked on the phone to his Israeli counterpart Ehud Olmert overnight, offering Spanish help in the search for peace in Gaza, government sources said Friday.

Zapatero and Olmert analysed the conditions for a ceasefire and the possibilities opened by the Franco-Egyptian peace plan.

A ceasefire needed to be "real" and to guarantee the security of both Gaza and Israel, Zapatero told the Israeli premier.

Madrid - Spanish leaders Barcelona are ready to move to their new training ground in Saint Joan Despi, according to Catalan daily Sport on Friday.

The "Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper" ("Joan Gamper Sporting City"), named after the club's 1899 Swiss founder, is located in the district of Sant Joan Despi, 4.5 kilometres from the club's famous Camp Nou stadium and covers 136,839 square metres.

Bilbao, Spain - The trial of the prime minister of Spain's semi-autonomous Basque region began Thursday on charges of having met with the illegal Batasuna party which is regarded as the political wing of the militant separatist group ETA.

Juan Jose Ibarretxe was the first Basque prime minister to be tried on criminal charges.

Ibarretxe arrived in the Bilbao court along with seven other accused including Basque Socialist leaders Patxi Lopez and Rodolfo Ares and Batasuna leader Arnaldo Otegi.

The accused also included four other Batasuna representatives arriving from prisons, where they were being held on separate charges.

Madrid  - Spanish cup holders Valencia were relieved to escape with a 1-1 draw away to Racing Santander on Wednesday, in a lively fifth round first leg clash.

Valencia, who beat Getafe 3-1 in last season's final, had Vicente and Miguel sent off in the dying minutes, when Santander came close to winning.

Valencia had taken the lead in the 38th minute, when Santander veteran Gonzalo Colsa headed a Manuel Fernandes corner into his own goal. From then on, the hosts were in the driving seat, with Valencia content to soak up the pressure and play on the break.

Madrid - Lionel Messi is again all the talk in Spain after his hat-trick and brilliant form against Atletico Madrid received unanimous praise from country's media.

Messi dazzled as Barcelona beat Atletico 3-1 away in the Spanish capital to move close to the quarter-finals of the King's Cup.

The Argentina striker left the pitch at the Vicente Calderon stadium on Tuesday to applause even from rival fans, who surrendered to the charm of an outstanding player in undoubtedly great form.