Madrid blasts lead to tighter Euro 2004 security

Portugal must tighten its security preparations for the European football championships in June and a major music festival following the Madrid train bombings, President Jorge Sampaio said today.

More than one million soccer fans from 16 countries are expected at the three week Euro 2004 competition, starting on June 12.

About 600,000 people are due to attend the Rock in Rio festival being held in Lisbon May 28-30 and June 3-6.

“The lessons of Thursday underline the need for Portugal, at events which are soon to take place, to strengthen the preventive measures being prepared by the security services,” Sampaio said in an interview

Portugal backed the US led invasion of Iraq and has sent police to help with peacekeeping operations there.