(19 Nov 2000) Natural Sound
XFA
Anti-fascist demonstrators clashed with police in the Spanish capital, Madrid, on Sunday as the country commemorated the 25th anniversary of death of fascist dictator General Franco.

Police baton charged around 2000 protesters in the centre of the city.

Elsewhere in Madrid, neo-fascist supporters of the former leader gathered to commemorate the anniversary.

Sunday's activities followed a remembrance ceremony by some five thousand people the previous night at a Mass at the Valle de los Caidos (Valley of the Fallen).

Franco - who died on November 20, 1975 - had the mausoleum sculpted out of a mountain side near Madrid for his burial place.

Franco became western Europe's longest reigning dictator this century, ruling Spain with an iron fist after unleashing one of the continent's bitterest civil wars.

But 25 years after his death, the few thousand who joined the memorial ceremonies were further testimony that the vast majority of Spaniards have no desire to cherish his memory.

In fact, Spain looks to be taking a different tack on the dictator's anniversary this year, seeing it more as a reason to celebrate the 25-year reign of King Juan Carlos.

The King was crowned two days after Franco's death, launching the country's return to democracy.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"We have an ideology, we are Spanish, we are Spanish from head to toe. It's a way of being. I'm Spanish all of me."
SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"It was a time with a lot of illusion, a lot of work, a lot of desire to do things, fighting for a way of surviving but without any base."
SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop

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