Real fans celebrate at Cibeles four years on

MADRID, June 18 (Reuters) Thousands of Real Madrid fans converged on the Cibeles fountain in the centre of the Spanish capital to celebrate the nine-times European champions' 30th league title after a 3-1 win over Real Mallorca.

Elated fans yesterday flooded down the Paseo de la Castellana from the Bernabeu stadium for the first time in four years to cheer their heroes who followed them in a gleaming white open-top bus bearing the word ''Campeones'' on the side.

England midfielder David Beckham, Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro, Mali international Mahamadou Diarra and Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas dangled off the front of the bus as it reached the fountain at 0045 local time.

Their arrival was greeted with a deafening chorus of ''We are the champions'' while the players danced and celebrated as they jumped on to a specially constructed catwalk that surrounded the historic fountain.

Club captain Raul, celebrating his fifth league title with Real, was lifted on to the monument by a crane and draped a Spanish flag and a club scarf around the statue of the goddess as his team mates looked on.

Fireworks soared over the fountain as the players returned to their bus to make their way back to the Bernabeu where they will continue the title celebrations at an official dinner with club dignitaries.

However, the celebrations ended in chaos after the players departed when riot police used tear gas and rubber bullets to break up fans who had thrown stones, fire crackers and flares.

There were no immediate reports of injuries though there were several ambulances on the scene.

REUTERS DH PM1030