Defiant nuns end protest

Five Spanish nuns ordered by a bishop to leave their convent at Espinosa de Henares abandoned a sit-in and left the century-old building yesterday, after it emerged that the decree came from the Vatican.

The Franciscan sisters, who had lived in the building for up to 47 years, protested last month when Bishop Jose Sanchez told them that their small number did not justify renovating the property, which he said was in a dangerous state.

When Sanchez arrived at the convent to personally expel the sisters, protesters spat at and jostled the bishop.

- AP