Spanish director Fernando Leon de Aranoa holds up a sign which reads 'No a la Guerra', No to War

MADRID, February 3 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar defended on Sunday, February 2, his unpopular backing of war on Iraq against a continuous barrage of criticism at home, the latest of which was manifested when artists participating in the Spanish Goya awards ceremony wore anti war tags.

Aznar told the Europa Press news agency that all governments, including Spain, "have the information that the regime of Saddam Hussein, with its biological and chemical weaponry and links to terrorist groups, poses a threat to the peace and security of the world and of Spain".

Aznar did not specify further the nature of the evidence that Spain has on Iraq's weapons program, Agence France-Presse (AFP) said. His comments came as popular opposition to war continues to increase in the country.

Stars of the Spanish film industry donned anti-war tags during the Goya awards ceremony late Saturday, February 1 in protest of the growing momentum toward a U.S.-led strike on Iraq.

Actors, directors, producers and guests stuck their evening wear with black pins with "No to war" marked in red during the ceremony, where Spain's top five film awards are given out each year,

"We have to be scared of war," actress Marisa Paredes said in an opening speech marking an evening that mixed cinematic stardom and pacifist opposition.

Elections Are Not A Blank Check

Javier Bardem, who scooped the prize for best actor with his performance in "Los Lunes al Sol" (Mondays in the Sun) -- its director Fernando Leon de Aranoa also won in his category -- told the conservative government: "Elections are not a blank check to do what you want."

A poll published Sunday in Spain's El Pais newspaper found that nearly two-thirds of Spaniards backed an anti-war stance espoused by France and Germany over the more aggressive line held by their own government.

A total of 64.7 percent of respondents said Madrid should join Berlin and Paris in standing firm against war with Iraq and pushing instead for U.N. inspectors to have more time to complete their search for alleged weapons of mass destruction.

France and Germany have issued a joint statement pledging to work together to avoid a war, but Spain and seven other countries have published an open letter backing the more hawkish line toted by the United States.

Even a majority of supporters of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's conservative Popular Party -- 52.2 percent -- said Aznar should adhere to the Franco-German position, according to the poll.

The telephone survey was conducted by the Opina institute on 1,000 people on Wednesday and Thursday, January 29, 30.

Another poll, published in El Mundo on Friday, January 31, found that 74.2 percent of all Spanish were not favorable in any circumstances to a military operation against Iraq -- either a unilateral U.S.-led strike or a war authorized by the United Nations.