The flat X-ray spectrum of the LINER NGC 1052

We report on ROSAT and ASCA observations of the LINER NGC 1052, which is th e first one where broad optical Lines in polarized light have been observed . The 2-10 keV spectrum is very flat, with a Gamma(observed) similar or equ al to 0.1. A model where a nuclear source is - partly or totally obscured b y a screen of matter with column density similar to 10(23) cm(-2) is the mo st convincing explanation for the observed flatness. This agrees with the h ypothesis that the LINERs are a population of low-luminosity AGN, to which the Seyfert unification scenario applies. The intrinsic spectral index is s till rather flat (Gamma(instrinsic) similar or equal to 1.0-1.4), as observ ed in a few type 2 Seyferts so far or predicted if the accretion occurs in an advection-dominated flow.