Madrid - Concern was mounting in Spain on Friday over a possible Russian purchase of nearly 30 per cent of the country's largest oil company Repsol YPF, with the governing Socialists appearing divided over the issue.

Repsol should remain a "clearly Spanish and independent" company, senior European affairs official Diego Lopez Garrido said amid reports that the Russian oil giant Lukoil was about to become Repsol's main shareholder.

Madrid - The Spanish property bubble has long since burst, the Spanish economy is entering into recession and football attendances are down - even for flamboyant leaders Barcelona.

Spanish clubs spent around a third less in the 2008 summer transfer market than in 2007, and most clubs have no plans at all to buy players in the upcoming January transfer "window".

All except one, that is.

Reigning champions Real Madrid are planning to dominate the winter transfer market, in the hope of revitalizing a squad plagued by injury and poor form.

Madrid - A political row has erupted in Spain over attempts to investigate alleged human rights crimes during the 1936-39 civil war and General Francisco Franco's dictatorship, according to press reports Friday.

Far-left parties are accusing Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's Socialist government of having helped to block a judicial investigation into the abuses committed by Franco, whose uprising led to the war. Franco ruled Spain from the end of the war until his death in 1975.

Madrid - Spain's stock market watchdog CNMV on Friday suspended trade in stocks of the oil company Repsol amid reports that Russian oil giant Lukoil was about to acquire nearly 30 per cent of Repsol.

The CNMV also suspended the stocks of Criteria, a holding of La Caixa bank, which admitted to being in talks with Lukoil about selling all or part of its 12.5-per-cent stake in Repsol to the Russian company.

Lukoil was also reported to be in talks with the construction company Sacyr Vallehermoso, which holds a 20-per-cent stake in Repsol.

Sacyr stocks rose by nearly 14 per cent after trading opened, on top of a 13-per-cent surge on Thursday. Repsol and Criteria shares dropped by more than 2 per cent.

Madrid - Spain's opposition Thursday expressed concern over the possibility of the oil and gas company Repsol YPF coming partly under Russian control.

Companies from outside the European Union should not get involved with strategic sectors in Spain, Cristobal Montoro of the conservative People's Party (PP) said amid reports that the Russian oil giant Lukoil was planning to swoop for just under 30 per cent of Repsol's stock.

Valencia, Spain - A Spanish discotheque Thursday cancelled a prize draw which had sparked a storm by advertising a breast augmentation operation as the jackpot.

The discotheque in the eastern city of Valencia apologized to those who might have felt offended, after the local authorities and the health ministry announced the possibility of sanctions.