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Spanish General detained after "invasion" speech

Madrid: A Spanish army General was placed under house arrest on Sunday and awaiting dismissal after saying that the military might step in to halt plans for greater autonomy for the wealthy eastern region of Catalonia. Lieutenant General Jose Mena, the head of Spain's 50,000-strong ground forces, told officers under his command that the country's Constitution gave them the right to act if the ``unity of Spain'' was in danger. His comments, made in a public speech, copies of which were distributed to journalists, saw him called in by Defence Minister Jose Bono, and placed under house arrest until he can be formally dismissed at a Cabinet meeting. Although Gen. Mena did not specify how the armed forces might intervene, his comments triggered memories of military uprisings and coups in Spain's past. General Francisco Franco rebelled against Spain's democratic republican government in 1936, triggering the Spanish civil war, and went on to rule as dictator until his death in 1975. In 1981, civil guards stormed Parliament in an attempted coup, which was quashed after King Juan Carlos ordered troops back to their barracks. —

© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

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