Moroccans pay respects to Madrid bomb victims

SPAIN held a sombre remembrance of the Madrid terror bombings yesterday - the second anniversary of the attacks - as a delegation from Morocco, home to many of the 24 suspects, observed a few minutes' silence at a railway station targeted in the massacre.

The 70-member delegation, called the Moroccan Caravan for Peace and Solidarity, set out from Morocco in buses on March 5, stopping in several Spanish cities before arriving at Atocha train station on a cold, blustery morning.

The station was one of four sites where 10 backpack bombs exploded, killing 191 people and wounding more than 1,500. Muslim militants who said they were acting on behalf of al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attacks.

"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," said delegation member Mohamed Boujida.

The delegation laid a wreath and wrote messages of condolence on a large-screen computer terminal at a memorial site.