The flat X-ray spectrum of the LINER NGC 1052

We report on ROSAT and ASCA observations of the LINER NGC 1052, which is the 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 equal to 0.1. A model where a nuclear source is - partly or totally obscured by a screen of matter with column density similar to 10(23) cm(-2) is the most convincing explanation for the observed flatness. This agrees with the hypothesis that the LINERs are a population of low-luminosity AGN, to which the Seyfert unification scenario applies. The intrinsic spectral index is still rather flat (Gamma(instrinsic) similar or equal to 1.0-1.4), as observed in a few type 2 Seyferts so far or predicted if the accretion occurs in an advection-dominated flow.