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Spain awaits local poll results Socialists ahead in Spanish poll
(about 1 hour later)
Votes are being counted in Spain's local and regional elections. Spain's ruling Socialists have a slight lead in local and regional elections, partial results indicate.
With 81% of votes counted, they are less than one percentage point ahead of the opposition Popular Party.
National issues - such as on-going violence in the Basque region and urban planning corruption - have loomed strongly in the campaigning.National issues - such as on-going violence in the Basque region and urban planning corruption - have loomed strongly in the campaigning.
For the first time, many British and German expatriates have put themselves forward as anti-corruption candidates.For the first time, many British and German expatriates have put themselves forward as anti-corruption candidates.
The vote is seen as the first real test of popularity for Spain's Socialist government, which came to power after general elections in March 2004. The vote was seen as the first real test of popularity for Spain's Socialist government, which came to power after general elections in March 2004.
That election came three days after train bomb attacks in Madrid that killed 191 people.That election came three days after train bomb attacks in Madrid that killed 191 people.
The political make-up of more than 8,000 town councils and most of the country's regional governments are being decided in Sunday's polls. The political make-up of more than 8,000 town councils and most of the country's regional governments is being decided in Sunday's polls.
New partiesNew parties
The vote follows the national government's first major setback, says the BBC's Danny Shaw in Madrid.The vote follows the national government's first major setback, says the BBC's Danny Shaw in Madrid.
In December, a bomb attack by the Basque separatist group Eta put an end to the peace process led by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.In December, a bomb attack by the Basque separatist group Eta put an end to the peace process led by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
The conservative opposition Popular Party wants to capitalise on that failure, our correspondent says.The conservative opposition Popular Party wants to capitalise on that failure, our correspondent says.
Their leader, Mariano Rajoy, says the government has given in to Eta and is allowing Basque political parties linked to its illegal political wing, Batasuna, to field candidates in the Basque region.Their leader, Mariano Rajoy, says the government has given in to Eta and is allowing Basque political parties linked to its illegal political wing, Batasuna, to field candidates in the Basque region.
The government has rejected the accusation, referring to the Supreme Court's ban of more than 100 lists of candidates linked to Batasuna.The government has rejected the accusation, referring to the Supreme Court's ban of more than 100 lists of candidates linked to Batasuna.
Corruption in town planning is another big issue. A number of new political groups have been influenced by the issue.Corruption in town planning is another big issue. A number of new political groups have been influenced by the issue.
For the first time, independent political parties with more non-Spanish than Spanish candidates, including many Britons and Germans, are taking part in elections.For the first time, independent political parties with more non-Spanish than Spanish candidates, including many Britons and Germans, are taking part in elections.