Madrid - Spain on Wednesday marked the fifth anniversary of the Madrid train bombings, the country's biggest terrorist attack, amid complaints by the victims that the authorities had forgotten them.

Victims' representatives said they would have hoped for bigger official acts to commemorate the bombings carried out by Islamist extremists, who killed 191 and injured more than 1,800 people.

Madrid - Real Madrid fans are not confident about their team winning at Liverpool on Tuesday in a Champions League round of 16 clash, according to an online poll taken by Madrid sports daily AS.

Only 35 per cent of readers voted "yes", with 65 per cent opting for "no" to the question, "Do you think that Real Madrid can turn the tie around in Anfield?." Almost 105,000 votes were cast by Monday morning.

Real lost the first leg 1-0 at home two weeks ago, on a late goal from Yosi Benayoun. Therefore, they need to win in Anfield to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since
2004.

Madrid - Barcelona are now six points ahead in the Spanish Liga after defeating Athletic Bilbao 2-0 on Saturday and after Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by lively crosstown rivals Atletico.

Barca's first win in four games leaves them with 63 points from 26 games, six more than Real.

Barca coach Josep Guardiola, true to form, refused to get carried away with the win.

Madri

Madrid - The Spanish government Friday approved a package of urgent measures to maintain employment and to protect the jobless after unemployment reached the record level of nearly 3.5 million people.

The measures included financial benefits for companies employing jobless people, and allowing those entitled to unemployment benefits to touch them faster.

Trade unions and employers' organizations criticized the measures as insufficient.