US Secretary of State Colin Powell will try to prop up a stumbling alliance with Spain over Iraq yesterday when he joins European leaders at a memorial service for the victims of the March 11 Madrid bombings.

Powell and Britain?s Tony Blair will hold talks with Spain?s incoming Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who has vowed to withdraw Spain?s 1,300 troops unless the United Nations takes control of US-led forces in Iraq by June 30.

Washington has urged a UN role to give credibility to the planned transfer of sovereignty in Iraq and London has said it hopes to agree a resolution that would keep Spain on board.

Powell signalled he would simply put out feelers to Zapatero, telling reporters before leaving Washington it was unlikely they would discuss details of a UN resolution.

?We will see what opportunities are there for a conversation, but I doubt it would get to that level of specific detail,? said Powell.

With Zapatero?s shock election ? three days after the suspected al Qaeda-linked Madrid train bombings that killed 190 people ? Spain swung sharply from being a staunch ally of US President George W. Bush over Iraq.

Spanish voters ousted the centre-right government of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar ? who backed Bush and Blair over Iraq ? with some blaming him for making them a target for suspected Muslim militants by supporting the Iraq war.

Zapatero opposed the conflict in line with majority public opinion in Spain and has branded Iraq?s occupation a ?fiasco?.

US and British officials have suggested that any Spanish pullout from Iraq could smack of appeasement to Osama bin Laden?s al Qaeda and other militant groups. Zapatero reminds them his pledge on troops predates the Madrid bomb attack.

Investigators believe the Madrid strike on four packed trains was the first in Europe by al Qaeda-linked groups.

Militarily, Spain?s contribution to Iraq is small but its political significance is great because the war caused major diplomatic rifts in Europe and across the world. Italy is the only other large European Union member that supported the war.

International debut

Zapatero has a packed agenda on Wednesday, beginning with talks with Blair ahead of the memorial service for the bomb victims at 12:30 p.m. (1130 GMT).

He will also meet French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who both opposed the Iraq war and have refused to contribute troops to US-led forces in Iraq.

Talks may also touch on stalled negotiations over a draft constitution for an enlarged EU as leaders seek a breakthrough.

Spain?s King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia will attend the memorial service along with Britain?s Prince Charles.

More than 1,000 people, including several hundred relatives of victims, are expected to pack Madrid?s Almudena Cathedral. Others will watch the service on giant television screens.

Security will be tight. Spain is holding 13 suspects over the attack, including 10 Moroccans.

The possible al Qaeda link to the bombings has contributed to jitters in world financial markets.

?We know that one of the features that has led to the markets? decline was the Madrid explosion, bringing terrorism to the forefront of people?s minds,? said Peter Dunay at brokerage Wall Street Access.

Kieran Murray