New Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriquez Zapatero has said that he will legalise homosexual marriages and give equal rights to gay couples.

The announcement, made on Thursday will bring about much debate in a highly Catholic country, particularly since the Vatican has condemned gay unions.

Dictator Francisco Franco had made homosexuality illegal in Spain, and many Spanish Bishops have expressed their strong opinions against allowing adoption by gay couples.

Homosexuality was banned during Franco's 1939-1975 dictatorship. Spain's liberal 1978 constitution outlawed sexual discrimination and homosexuality was legalised shortly afterwards.

In America, gay marriage became an election-year issue after officials in several states used uncertainty in the law to allow the marrying of gay couples. President Bush, however, is backing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to ban same-sex marriages.

Zapatero and his Socialist party swept to a surprise victory in Spanish general elections last month three days after train bombs planted by terrorists killed 191 people.

Nine other European Union countries already have some provision for recognising those in committed same-sex relationships. Last month, Britain also said it would give legal recognition to gay partnerships.

Many church leaders, however, express their condemnation of changes which give gay couples new legal rights.