Madrid - The European economy could start recovering from its downturn already this year, European Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said Friday.

Almunia, who was attending an event to mark the 10th anniversary of Spain's entry into the European Monetary Union, linked the recovery to a rapid application of support measures to the financial and other sectors.

Measures against the crisis needed to take into account its "important" impact on the economy, financial system and social framework, Almunia advised.

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Bilbao, Spain  - The militant Basque separatist group ETA criticized overnight Sunday's elections in Spain's Basque region, slamming them as undemocratic and as a "political fraud" in a communique sent to the newspaper Gara.

ETA urged the Basques to vote blank instead of electing a "fascist" regional parliament.

The elections will be the first ones without the participation of parties close to ETA after the Supreme Court barred two radical separatist formations from contesting them.

Madrid- Spanish giants Atletico Madrid announced Thursday the death of nine-year-old junior player Diego Alcala Rivero in Madrid's 12 de Octubre hospital after an accident.

The boy had been in the hospital's intensive care unit since Saturday, after the metal roof of the Atletico junior team's bench fell on him during a match in the Madrid suburb of Las Rozas.

He was rushed to hospital with severe head injuries/