Del Toro and Ricky Martin granted Spanish citizenship

Singer Ricky Martin and actor Benicio del Toro have been granted citizenship by the Spanish government.

Spokesman Jose Blanco said today that the pair were being recognised for their artistic talents and the government was happy they wished to have Spanish nationality.

Both Martin and del Toro are from Puerto Rico and have US citizenship.

Spain normally obliges people to renounce any other nationality they have before granting them a Spanish passport, but it makes exceptions for citizens from Latin American countries and some other places including Puerto Rico.

It was not immediately clear why the two celebrities sought Spanish citizenship.