Regional Extremadura president, Juan Carlos Rodríguez Ibarra (PSOE), made an empassioned plea to Interior minister, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, not to allow ETA hunger-striker, José Ignacio de Juana Chaos, who disconnected his feeding tube three days ago, "to die in hospital and become a hero, because it would be the biggest favour we could do for him after his loathsome and disgusting life."

Mr Ibarra was speaking at a socialist rally in Plasencia yesterday, also attended by Mr Rubalcaba, to present the party's candidates for the next round of regional elections that will be held on the 27th May.

The retiring regional president, who will not be standing for re-election on health grounds, went on to tell Mr Rubalcaba: "If I had to take a decision to ensure this guy doesn't die, I don't know what I'd do, but I'm telling you as Interior minister, and with all the repugnance that I feel towards people like him, that this bastard should not be allowed to die."