Madrid bomb trial accused end hunger protest

MADRID, May 21 (Reuters) The eight remaining suspects charged with Madrid's deadly 2004 train bombings who were on hunger strike have ended their protest, their lawyers said today.

The accused had refused to eat because they said the presumption of innocence in the trial had been undermined by ''media and political pressure''.

In a statement, they had said they wanted their trial to be ''disconnected from the political arena.'' The group are among 29 standing trial over bomb attacks on Madrid trains which killed 191 people in 2004.

Some of the hunger strikers began their protest on May 4 while others started in the middle of last week.

At one point, the judge warned the hunger strikers, most from North Africa or the Middle East, they would be force-fed if necessary.

The trial started in February and is expected to last for several more weeks.

Reuters SKB DB1822