Thousands of Catalans who want their region to remain in Spain marked the country's national day today, marching through Barcelona waving both Spanish and Catalan flags and shouting "I am Spanish".

Irish troops will take part in the National Spanish Day parade through the streets of Madrid today.

US troops carrying the American flag were to march today in a Spanish military parade for the first time in three years, a sign of rapprochement between two countries divided over the Iraq war.

A large explosion destroyed part of an underground car park in Madrid, damaging scores of vehicles and sending smoke spewing out onto a central square after a military procession passed by it with US marines taking part.