Spain tries cartoonist for praising terror

Spanish prosecutors are seeking 18-month jail terms for a Spanish cartoonist and a Moroccan colleague charged with praising terrorism.

Prosecutors say one of the drawings attributed to Spaniard Gonzalo Lopez Royodepicts buildings resembling the Twin Towers collapsing, with people dressed in the festive red-and-white garb of Spain's running of the bulls scurrying away. Another shows US Marines in the cross-hairs of a gun.

The official says the two suspects went on trial on Monday at the National Court and a verdict is expected some time in the coming weeks.

Publicly praising or defending terrorism is a crime in Spain.

Authorities sometimes use that clause in the law to go after supporters of armed Basque separatist group ETA.

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