Madrid, Nov 5 (IANS/EFE): The Spanish government has granted citizenship to Puerto Rican artists Benicio del Toro and Ricky Martin.

These two, "famous in their different arts, wish to share Spanish citizenship with all of us and the government is therefore very pleased" to grant it, Spanish government spokesman Jose Blanco said.

"Spanish citizenship is acquired by naturalisation papers awarded at discretion by royal decree when the interested party conjoins exceptional circumstances and after a document is processed for each case in particular, as occurred with those the government has resolved today (Friday)," he said.

Singer Enrique Martin Morales is one of the most influential figures in the world of Latin music and according to his record label has had global sales of more than 60 million while winning a Grammy Award and several Latin Grammys.

For his part, Benicio del Toro Sanchez has scored international fame with starring roles in a number of American films including his Oscar-winning part in "Traffic".