Still, questions

Attention is starting to focus more on an Islamic source for the bloody bombings in Madrid.

Spanish authorities have announced the arrest of five men in the case - three Moroccans and two naturalized Spaniards - one of who was named in an indictment last fall as a "follower" of Imad Yarkas, now imprisoned in Spain under a charge of helping to plan the 9/11 attacks in the US.

There is also the videotape, supposedly done by "al-Qaeda's military spokesman in Europe" which says that his group is behind to blasts. However, the man, who identified himself as Abu Dujan al-Afgani, is said to be unknown to intelligence services. Still, it may mean something that he was described as speaking Arabic with a Moroccan accent.

Meanwhile, ETA has repeatedly stated that it was not involved in the attacks.

While the finger of guilt has yet to be clearly pointed, there has definitely been a political fallout from the attack.

BBC correspondents in Madrid say people are on the streets protesting against the government late into [Saturday] night in the wake of the alleged al-Qaeda claim.

They say that if voters believe it was an al-Qaeda attack, they could turn against the ruling party when they go to the polls in a matter of hours. ...

The demonstrators charge that the government downplayed the theory that it might have been al-Qaeda.

They say the government is scared of losing votes in Sunday's general election because of its unpopular decision to support the invasion of Iraq.

That is, they were charging that the government was investigating an act of terrorism with its own political future in mind. My word! How could they think such a thing? Why do they hate Spain so much?

Their hatred knew no bounds, it seems.

Madrid, Spain (AP) - Voters ousted Spain's ruling party in elections Sunday, with many saying they were shaken by bombings in Madrid and furious with the government for backing the Iraq war and making their country a target for al-Qaida. ...

Turnout was high at 76 percent. Many voters said Thursday's bombings, which killed 200 people and wounded 1,500, was a decisive factor, along with the government's much-criticized handling of the initial investigation.

Terrorist-lovers.

What He Shoulda Said Dept.: In reacting to the bombings, according to the Beeb, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair

said each generation had its wars to fight, but the war of this generation "is not a conventional war."

"It is fought by dangerous fanatics," he said. "They are terrorists without any mercy and without any thought."

He then added thoughtfully "and the people that we're against aren't any better, either."