Last statue of dictator Franco removed in 'historic day' for Spain

Local workers load a statue of former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, the last one remaining in Spain, into a truck after removing it from its location in Melilla, Spain, February 23, 2021.REUTERS/Jesus Blasco de Avellaneda

MELILLA, Spain (Reuters) - The last statue of former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco was removed on Tuesday from the city gates of Melilla, a Spanish enclave and autonomous city on the northwest African coast.

Without much fanfare, a group of workmen operated a mechanical digger and heavy drills to chip away at the brick platform on which the statue stood, lifted it off by a chain around its neck and carted it away in bubble wrap on a pickup truck.