José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Spain's prime minister, yesterday faced growing questions about his leadership, following a speech to parliament that neither fully explained, nor apologised for, his handling of peace talks with violent Basque separatist group Eta.

After two weeks of verbal slips and political fumbling, Mr Zapatero's decision on Monday not to explain the mistakes that led to the collapse of Eta's nine-month ceasefire with a bomb attack at Madrid airport on December 30, nor to apologise for ignoring signs that peace talks were falling apart, drew criticism even from traditional allies.