The relatives and friends of the Spanish soldiers booed and whistled the minister and brandished anti-war placards, including one marked "War is rubbish", at the southern base that is jointly shared with US forces.

Defence ministry sources said the protest was staged by employees at the Rota base who have been at odds with management for several months.

The roughly 700 soldiers were returning from a mission in the southern Iraqi port town of Umm Qasr, which serves as the key entry point for humanitarian aid to the war-wracked country.

The Spanish contingent was comprised essentially of demining and decontamination experts and engineers.

Last week, the government of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar approved the deployment of 1,300 military personnel to join a Polish-led force that will take over security in southern Iraq.

The total 9,200-strong multinational contingent will be stationed in the south-central section between Baghdad and Basra. It is set to become operational in early September.

WAR.WIRE