Terror survivors gather in Spain

Alejandro Urteaga is one of the hundreds of victims attending

Hundreds of survivors of terror attacks around the world are among delegates attending an International Victims of Terrorism conference in Spain.

People caught up in the Beslan school siege, the Madrid and London train bombings and the 11 September attacks on the US are at the Valencia event.

Some have related their experiences as part of discussions to find ways to fight and deal with terrorism.

Organisers say they want more done at an international level to help victims.

They want more of a say in how societies deal with terrorism and unequivocal condemnation from governments of terrorist violence.

The conference was opened by Spain's Crown Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia. Prince Felipe said the killers' violence had "not succeeded, and never would succeed, in bringing us to our knees".

"Victims of terrorism, you are not alone, not in your pain or your hopes," he said. "We are, and will always be, at your side."

Finding a voice

Delegates included many now in wheelchairs or who had lost limbs as a result of terror attacks.

The first tool that they have against terrorism... is the voice of the victims William Frazer

"When you bring terrorism victims together, you find that we have a common language, a common pain," said Israeli Arnold Roth, who lost his 15-year-old daughter in a suicide attack in Jerusalem in 2002.

"Terrorism has changed almost everything in my life, and since then I remind people, even in my country, how essential it is to stop terrorism."

The BBC's Danny Wood says the victims at the conference believe that giving them a higher profile in the struggle with terrorism is one of the best ways to fight it.

William Frazer, a victim of the Northern Ireland troubles, told one of the discussions: "Government seems to look at terrorism on one front.

"The first tool that they have against terrorism is the actual people they have sitting around this table and that is the voice of the victims. But for some reason or another they don't want to give us it."

Madrid attacks

The two previous conferences were held in Madrid and Bogota, Colombia.

Maite Pagazaurtundua, from the Spanish Foundation of Terrorism Victims, said: "Spain is a good example when we're talking about protecting people who have suffered the phenomenon of terrorism - and how to face it."

Discussions have touched on victims of attacks abroad - including Colombia, the US, Ireland, Israel, the UK, Russia and Indonesia - and those injured in Spain's conflict with Basque separatists Eta.

On Tuesday, the conference will turn its attention to the survivors of the Madrid train bombings in 2004 and the psychological impact attacks have on victims.