Barcelona - Hundreds of Spanish students Thursday disrupted traffic, causing traffic jams in the Barcelona region in protests at the temporary expulsion of six students.

The six had been accused of staging violent incidents against the so-called Bologna university reform.

A protest movement against the reform based on a 1999 declaration and signed by 46 European countries has spread through some half a dozen Spanish universities.

Barcelona - Albert Costa was on Thursday named as the new captain of Spain's Davis Cup team, replacing Emilo Sanchez Vicario who resigned after leading his country to the 2008 title 3-1 over Argentina last month in Mar del Plata.

Costa was favourite to take over the post and receives a one-year contract. Spain begin the defence of their Davis Cup title next year March 6-8 against Serbia in Benidorm.

"For me the nomination is a recognition of my total career," said the 33-year-old, who was part of Spain's Davis Cup winning team in 2000 and is believed to have beaten off competition from former player Alex Corretja.

Santander, Spain - The northern Spanish city of Santander on Thursday began removing a statue of General Francisco Franco, the last remaining one of the 1939-75 dictator on horseback which remained in a public place.

Under the 2007 Law of Historic Memory seeking to restore the honour of Franco's victims, tributes to the dictatorship have to be removed.

The Santander authorities said the statue would be placed in a future history museum.

The Association for the Recovery of Historic Memory (ARMH) representing Franco's victims welcomed the removal of the statue.

Madrid- The "human ads" that have become one of the colourful features of Madrid will continue strolling in the Spanish capital, press reports said Thursday.

Mayor Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon cancelled a planned ban on the ads after it sparked widespread protests.

An estimated 30 people walk around, mainly near the central Puerta del Sol square, wearing placards on their chests and backs.

The placards advertise pawn shops, with the text "I buy gold," tattoo shops, and the like.

London, Dec 18 : Former Prime Minister of Spain Jose Maria Aznar may have fathered the child of the French Justice Minister, Rachida Dati, who is eight months pregnant, according to rumours.

Although Dati, daughter of a Moroccan immigrant, has not revealed who the father is, but El Pais, the most widely-circulated daily newspaper in Spain, said that Moroccan spies had investigated and were pointing to Aznar.

Aznar has strongly denied the allegation, reports the Independent.

Recently, a Madrid judge ordered the TV station Telecinco to pay Aznar 240,000 euros in damages for reporting in 2007 that Aznar and his wife, Ana Botella, were to separate because of a supposed infidelity by the famously uncharismatic Aznar.

Madrid  - Troubled Spanish giants Real Madrid announced on Wednesday evening the return of Dani Parejo.

Parejo, 19, had been on loan at English club Queens Park Rangers since July.

However, he has failed to settle down in London and started only 10 matches for the West London club.

New Real coach Juande Ramos is keen to strengthen his squad, which has been ravaged by injuries in recent weeks, particularly in midfield.