Madrid - Spain went deeper into a recession in the first quarter, with gross domestic product (GDP) shrinking 1.8 per cent compared to the last quarter of 2008, the Bank of Spain said Wednesday.

The economy contracted 2.9 per cent over 12 months in its steepest decline since the 1970s.

A recession caused partly by the collapse of a property boom is being aggravated by the persistence of the international slowdown, the effects of which have not been offset by falling inflation and interest rates, the bank said.

Barcelona (Spain), Apr. 29 : Chelsea football club coach Guus Hiddink has hailed his team for successfully forcing a draw against Spanish football champions Barcelona at their Nou Camp home ground, saying "My heroes bleed for me."

The Blues became the first side this season to stop Barcelona scoring at home as this Champions League semi-final.

Madrid - Spanish King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia will head Madrid's delegation when the Olympic host city for the
2016 Games is elected in October. A royal spokesman said on Tuesday that the royal couple has accepted an invitation by Madrid mayor Alberto Ruiz Gallardon.

The four bidders, which apart from Madrid are Chicago, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro, will make final presentations to the International Olympic Committee at its Session in Copenhagen. The host city is elected by the IOC Session on October 2.

Madrid - French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Tuesday pledged to spare no effort in helping Spain fight the militant Basque separatist group ETA, saying democracy could not "give in to terrorists.""Every time Spain needs France in the fight against the killers, Spain can count on the French republic," Sarkozy said in a speech to Spanish parliament.

Madrid  - The Spanish frigate Numancia intercepted and arrested nine alleged pirates suspected of attacking the Italian cruise ship MS Melody, media reports said.

A French and an Indian warship, as well as a helicopter and two surveillance planes also participated in the operation, which took place Sunday north of the Seychelles.

The alleged pirates were detected near the position were the attack on the MS Melody took place late Saturday. The attackers abandoned one of their two boats, which was found by the Indian warship Nirdeshak.