MADRID (Reuters) - The Spanish government has approved a takeover bid by Italian motorway operator Atlantia (>> Atlantia) for Spanish rival Abertis (>> Abertis Infraestructuras), the government's spokesman Inigo Mendez de Vigo said on Friday.

Atlantia is competing against Hochtief (>> Hochtief), the German arm of Spanish builder , in a takeover battle for Abertis.

(Reporting By Paul Day; Editing by Jesús Aguado)