Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero

While Zapatero had campaigned on a promise to pull out Spain's 1,300 soldiers, he had hinted that they would remain until June 30, when the U.S.-led occupation plans to hand sovereignty to an Iraqi government.

Zapatero made the announcement in Madrid just hours after his Socialist government was sworn in. The Socialists swept Spain's parliamentary election last month on a wave of public anger three days after a series of train bombings killed 191 people in Madrid on March 11. Islamic militants who claimed responsibility said the attacks were intended to punish Spain for backing Washington in its invasion of Iraq.

In a nationally televised speech, Zapatero said he decided to pull out the troops immediately after determining that the United Nations was not prepared to take over the administration of Iraq.

The Japan Times Weekly: April 24, 2004
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