San Fermin festival gets underway

The start of the annual San Fermin bull-running festival was delayed briefly after suspected Basque nationalists obstructed the view in a historic city plaza in Pamplona before dignitaries could set off a firework marking the beginning of reveries.

The nine-day fiesta featuring a heady mix of alcohol, bulls and adrenaline began some 20 minutes later than planned today after organisers removed an oversize Basque flag that blocked the balcony from where the rocket, known as Chupinazo, was to be ignited.