Spain okays flaming bull festivals

From correspondents in Madrid From: AP September 23, 2010 4:26AM

LAWMAKERS who banned bullfighting in Spain's Catalonia region have voted to effectively endorse other traditions involving the animals such as attaching burning poles to bulls' horns.
The legislation was approved overnight by a 114-14 vote, with 5 abstentions.

In July, Catalonia banned bullfighting on grounds of cruelty, becoming only the second Spanish region to do away with the centuries-old tradition.

But the overnight vote protects traditions in Catalonia involving bulls that have been widely criticised as cruel.

They include attaching poles with flaming wax or fireworks to bulls' horns, then letting the animals run around and chase people, or letting the beasts chase human daredevils by seaside marinas and plunge into the water.