Police used truncheons to disperse over 200 young Basques who tried to demonstrate against the Franco regime on Sunday April 26, the 33rd anniversary of the destruction of this historic town during the Spanish Civil War.

Despite police road blocks and heavy rain, young Basques from the western Pyrenees reached Guenica in answer to leaflets calling for a day of Basque unity. They attended mass in the chapel of Santa Clara Church to mark the anniversary of the raid by German bombers helping Franco Nationalists. Estimates of civilians killed in the raid vary from 100 to 1600.

Police intervened quickly on Sunday when small groups attempted to demonstrate in the main square, soon cleared the area and told people to go home.

At a nearby village, groups of youths were said to have thrown petrol bombs and stones at two banks. Some 20 demonstrators are believed to have been arrested.