Barça, the spanish government DID lie about the culprits. Although the Interior Minister managed to put out clues about a diferent terrorist group being responsible, the fact is that Ana Palazio issued a memo to every Embassy around the world, and especially the Spanish Embassy at the UN, demanding that every spanish representative defends with tooth and nails the ETA thesis.
And this tells me that Aznar was doing damage control.
Besides, is highly irresponsable of any politician to make accusations in such hurry, before any forensics have had the chance to examine the bomb site.
The PP lost the elections because of their own faults. The March 11 bombings only hammered the final nail on the coffin.
Also, the terrorist group responsible for it has issued a statement where they pledge a Cease-fire, untill they perceive the direction that this new govt. is taking. When Zapatero stated the spanish troops would abandon Iraq, this group has since promised to end all operations in Spain, and vowed to move on to other coalition nations. In this case, they came here. If people remember, it was the portuguese PM that hosted the war summit, and supported Bush´s endeavour. Just like Spain, some 85 to 90% or our people stood against it. And we have the Euro 2004 coming up, a huge target for any terror strike.
We received a letter from a supposed member of that same group, stating they would conduct similar strikes here, unless we turn away from Iraq.
But that is a diferent story.

Btw, one spanish man has been arrested in conection to the Madrid blasts. He used to work as a miner, and stole 100kg of C-2 from the mines, wich he sold to the terrorists. There is even his name and photo floating around in the media.

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"Quincitilius Varus, give me back my legions!"
Emperor Augustus of Rome.