BBC NEWS
Madrid remembers terror victims
Spain is marking the second anniversary of the Madrid train bombings, in which 191 people were killed.

The prime minister will attend a wreath-laying ceremony in the Forest of Remembrance at noon, which will be followed by a five-minute silence.

A delegation from Morocco - the country of origin of many of the suspects - has travelled to the city to join events.

Islamic militants with links to al-Qaeda said they carried out the attacks on the four commuter trains.

A number of key suspects killed themselves in a stand-off with police weeks after the bombings, but the investigation to find others involved has continued.

Twenty-five people are being held in jail pending trial.

Moroccan 'solidarity'

The Moroccan delegation observed a few minutes of silence at Atocha train station, which was targeted in the massacre.

More than anything I remember the silence
Javier Hervas

The Moroccan Caravan for Peace and Solidarity set out in buses on 5 March, stopping in several Spanish cities.

"We want to express our solidarity and support for the Spanish people and show that the Moroccan people are one of peace and against terrorism," member Mohamed Boujida said.

The 10 co-ordinated blasts on the morning of 11 March 2004 were the country's worst terrorist attack.

"March 11 is a date I will never forget," a passenger at Atocha told the Associated Press news agency.

"More than anything I remember the silence" that engulfed the city after the massacre, Javier Hervas said.

The explosions came three days before a general election, in which the Socialists ousted the right-wing Popular Party (PP) of then Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar.

The government initially blamed armed Basque separatists Eta for the attacks, an error which is widely believed to have contributed to the Popular Party's unexpected defeat.

Correspondents say Spanish victims' associations will keep a low profile, as they did 12 months ago.

In 2005 the Association of Madrid Bombing Victims said it would boycott all the events, protesting that the pain of victims and relatives had been used as a political football.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/4795914.stm

Published: 2006/03/11 09:53:44 GMT

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So sad in so many ways. The Spanish are my favorite Europeans and I felt so badly for them when the terrorists killed 200 people going to work.

then the Spanish turned around and did exactly what the murderous terrorists wanted them to do.  It was so so so sad and disappointing.

They gave in.

Quoted: They gave in.

They panicked.  I think a lot of them realize now that they made a mistake in electing Senyor Socialist.