SPAIN: PRIME MINISTER FELIPE GONZALEZ PRESS CONFERENCE

(21 Jul 1995) Spanish/Nat
The Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez was plunged into another political crisis Friday following revelations that he knew about government-backed death squads used to hunt down Basque terrorists.
It's the first time Gonzalez has been personally accused of being involved in the affair and has prompted an avalanche of demands that he resign. Gonzalez has denied the allegations as "absolutely false".
The latest accusations were made by Ricardo Garcia Damborenea, a former leader of the Socialist party in Spain's Basque region, and one of several politicians and police officials under investigation in connection with the squads.
The Anti-Terrorist Liberation Groups, known as GAL, were responsible for the deaths of at least 26 people in the 1980s.
Prime Minister Gonzalez wasted no time in calling a news conference to refute the latest wave of damaging allegations which could spell the end of his embattled political career.
Gonzalez has been dogged by claims that he condoned a government-backed "dirty war" against terrorism during the 1980s.
The Spanish Premier has consistently denied having inside knowledge about the squads but the latest accusations point the finger directly at Gonzalez. Last night a former leader of the Socialist party in Spain's Basque region, Ricardo Garcia Damborenea, told a judge the Prime Minister knew about the squads while they were operating and that he'd discussed the issue with him on more than one occasion.
Gonzalez's denial was categorical.
SOUNDBITE:(Spanish)
Translation:
"I reiterate what I said yesterday, that Mr. Damborenea's claimed are absolutely false and I would like to add that this morning I have instructed the Attorney General to begin legal proceedings in this respect. I also wish to announce that we have requested a special parliamentary hearing so that we can explain the matter and I hope this will be possible by the middle of next week".
SUPER CAPTION:Felipe Gonzalez - Spanish Prime Minister
The Anti-Terrorist Liberation Groups, known by the Spanish acronym GAL, were responsible for the deaths of at least 26 people in France from 1983 and 1987.
At this morning's news conference journalists pressed him on whether he was telling the whole truth about his knowledge of GAL's operations.
SOUNDBITE:(Spanish)
"It's a matter of personal conscience and I can assure you that mine is absolutely clean and if the matter ever gets to the Supreme Court I would answer the question in exactly the same manner. I would also ask all my colleagues to support any proceedings in the Supreme Court by acting the same way. Each person must act according to his own convictions and I would certainly always be willing to make myself available for any court proceedings which might be initiated to clarify the matter".
SUPER CAPTION:Felipe Gonzalez - Spanish Prime Minister
Gonzalez dismissed his relationship with his accuser as minimal - even though Damborenea was at the forefront of regional politics in the Basque country during the 1980s.
SOUNDBITE:(Spanish)
(Translation):
SUPER CAPTION:Felipe Gonzalez - Spanish Prime Minister
Last week Gonzalez announced he was calling early elections next spring after his key backers in parliament withdrew their support.
Gonzalez's minority Socialist government lost the backing of conservative Catalan nationalists who had provided his working majority in parliament.
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