Top Spanish officer killed; Basques are suspected

Basque gunmen are suspected in the killing of Spain's top field general Thursday, sharply raising tension in the period before the country's first Socialist government takes office.

Maj. Gen. Victor Lago Roman was killed when two men carrying submachine guns fired on his car from a motorcycle, official sources said. The general's driver was wounded. The Brunete Armored Division, which he had commanded for 13 months, is regarded as Spain's most powerful military unit, with its tank regiments stationed around Madrid.