Spain confirms rightist complicity in bank siege

Antiterrorist commandos ended a 37-hour bank siege by rightist gunmen, freeing scores of hostages. The troops killed one gunman and captured 10 others in an office of Spain's Central Bank, ending a bid by rightists to free four officers held in an attempted coup.

The government said Monday rightwing extremists planned and bankrolled the takeover -- the first official confirmation that pro-Franco forces were involved , raising fresh fears for the survival of the nation's young democracy.

The government said only 11 gunmen were involved, disputing hostage reports that 24 men seized the building and that some escaped when the building was stormed.

The discrepancy raised speculation that the government might be covering up possible participation of members of the paramilitary Civil Guard, which stormed parliament in February in an abortive coup attempt.