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Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Secondary Navigation Top Stories Full Coverage Most Popular Photos Search Search: Spain's Queen Sofia under fire on eve of 70th birthday AFP - Saturday, November 1 MADRID (AFP) - - Spain's Queen Sofia was Friday embroiled in controversy for opposing the word marriage to describe same-sex unions, putting her at odds both with gay groups and government policy just ahead of her 70th birthday. "If these people want to live together and dress it up as marriage, they can be within their rights, or not, according to the laws of their country," she is quoted as saying in a new biography "The Queen Up Close". But she added that this should not be called marriage "because it is not." Spain's Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Transsexuals and Bisexuals (FELGTB) immediately condemned the remarks, which conflict with the socially liberal policies of Spain's Socialist government. In 2005, Spain became only the third member of the European Union, after Belgium and the Netherlands, to allow same-sex marriages giving couples the same rights as married heterosexuals. It is "unheard-of for the Royal Palace, which has never spoken out on social issues, to do so now, from the mouth of the queen, with part of the population historically suffering discrimination and with a law that guarantees equality in unions," FELGTB said. The embarrassed royal household released a statement emphasizing that the queen deplores "the inexactitude" of the remarks which were attributed to her and her "deep respect for all people, her closeness to all those who suffer, are hounded or persecuted." But the biography's author, journalist Pilar Urbano, Friday reaffirmed the accuracy of the remarks, and defended the queen's right to express her opinions on all subjects. She said the queen had "nothing to do" with Friday's royal statement. FELGTB said it is "satisfied" by the royal clarification. But the controversy over her opinions and the queen's role in a constitutional monarchy was far from over. The affair comes at a bad time for the Greek-born queen and her husband, King Juan Carlos, as the two are visiting Latin America this week and as tributes to Sofia are planned for her 70th birthday on Sunday, when the biography is to go on sale. The conservative opposition Popular Party, which has similar views to the queen's on the issue, said Friday that members of the royal family must maintain "neutrality." "I think that the (royal) institution should not speak. The king and queen are like the flag, which plays a role in officials acts without making statements," said the party's spokesman, Esteban Gonzales Pons. "Fortunately, Spain is no longer a kingdom as before," said a deputy from the lefist IU coalition. He noted that it was parliament, and not the queen, to decide if a same-sex union could be described as marriage. Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega side-stepped the issue at her weekly press briefing Friday, saying only that the queen is "loved and respected" and fulfils her role "impeccably." In the book, the queen is also quoted as saying she opposes abortion and the possible legalisation of euthanasia, but said said welcomes the possible election of an African-American, Barack Obama, as president of the United States. Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Recommend this article Average (1 vote) Sign in to recommend this article » Most Recommended Stories » Most Popular – Top Stories Viewed Japan joins wave of rate cuts as recession fears grow McCain, Obama step up battleground blitz Australian F1 race posts record financial loss BBC chief quits, star presenter suspended over offensive prank When men see red, they see hot: study View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology

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