`Dirty War' trial opens in Madrid

Madrid - The trial of senior members of the 1980s Socialist government and antiterrorist high command, charged with organising…

Madrid - The trial of senior members of the 1980s Socialist government and antiterrorist high command, charged with organising a "Dirty War" against the Basque terrorist group, ETA, opened in the Supreme Court yesterday, writes Paddy Woodworth.

As expected, the former police subcommissioner, Mr Jose Amedo, repeated his allegations that his superior officers, up to and including the former interior minister, Mr Jose Barrionuevo, were involved in setting up the Grupos Antiterroristas de Liberacion (GAL), which carried out 27 killings, mostly in France, up to 1987. He said: "The entire senior staff of the interior ministry and the Socialist government was aware of the actions GAL was preparing." However, another of the defendants, the former police inspector, Mr Michel Dominguez, denied any involvement by senior government officials. alez will be called as a witness.

Madrid - GAL trial short to go here