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Thousands turned out on Friday at numerous silent demonstrations held in Mallorca, the Basque country and across the whole of the Spanish state in rejection of ETA''s latest attack which cost the lives of two Civil Guard agents in Palmanova in Mallorca.

Among those present was Basque President Patxi Lopez, who travelled to Palma de Mallorca to attend the wake of the murdered agents, as well as the protest which preceded it.

The families of the victims were accompanied in the wake by President of the Balearics, Francesc Antich, Government Representative Ramon Socias and Mayoress of Palma, Adina Calvo. Also present were the leader of the Spanish government, José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, and of the opposition, Mariano Rajoy. The Spanish leader presented posthumous Golden Cross medals to the dead agents, the highest distinction awarded in the armed services.

Following the funeral, the bodies of Diego Salvà will be buried in Palma, while the family of Carlos Saenz de Tejada García have expressed their desire that his body be shipped back to Burgos. Saenz de Tejada is to be named Favourite Son of Burgos.

Funeral and protests following attacks by ETA

The Spanish Prince Felipe and his wife lead the funeral at 1pm of the two civil guards killed during the attack on their barracks in Calvià (Palma de Mallorca): Diego Salva Lezaun and Carlos Sáenz de Tejada García, according to a spokesperson for the royal household.

The funeral, which took place at 13:00 at Palma Cathedral, was attended by the President of Spain''s government, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, leader of the opposition, Mariano Rajoy, Basque president Patxi López as well as various representatives of both the Spanish and Basque parliaments.

Rejection of terrorism

At 12 midday and 19:00, demonstrations in protest of Thursday''s attack were held by the council of Calvià and in Palmanova respectively, while at 12:00 various protests were also organised in various towns in the Basque Country.

In a statement, Spanish president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero expressed his admiration for the Civil Guard and stressed that recent attacks had come at a time when ETA was being hit "harder than ever".

Zapatero assured that the perpetrators by Thursday''s attack would not escape, that "they have not chance of hiding" and would be caught. However, he called on security forces to step up surveillance.

Restriction on coastal traffic

The ports of Palma and Alcudia, on the island of Mallorca, are still operating only restricted traffic and all sailing vessels require previous authorisation from the Spanish Home Office in order to leave the island.

Following yesterday''s attack, the Spanish Home Secretary gave a ruling for the airport and all ports to the island to be closed. The airport at Palma de Mallorca then resumed operations mid-afternoon, while all island ports continue to operate with restricted traffic.

Attack

ETA killed two civil guard agents with a car-bomb at 13.50 on Thursday in the coastal town of Palmanova in Mallorca. There were no other injuries.

The explosion was the result of a limpet bomb that had been attached to the underside of the Nissan patrol car being driven by the two deceased civil guards at the time of the explosion, and which was remotely activated. The attack came just a day after a similar attack on a Civil Guard barracks in Burgos, in which no-one was killed.