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NI peace politicians at Eta conference | NI peace politicians at Eta conference |
(about 14 hours later) | |
Politicians involved in the Northern Ireland peace process have called on the militant group, Eta, to declare a definitive end to all armed action. | |
Negotiators attended a conference in northern Spain on the long-term Basque separatist conflict. | |
Among them were Sinn Fein president, Gerry Adams, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Tony Blair's former chief of staff, Jonathan Powell. | |
Former UN chief Kofi Annan was among senior statesmen attending. | |
"We call upon Eta to make a public declaration of the definitive cessation of all armed action," Mr Ahern said after the one-day conference, which did not include the Spanish government or the outlawed Eta. | |
"If such a declaration is made we urge the governments of Spain and France to welcome it." | |
Eta, the armed Basque separatist group, called a ceasefire in January after more than four decades of violence. | |
But Spanish politicians rejected the move, saying Eta remained a potential threat and must disband for good. | But Spanish politicians rejected the move, saying Eta remained a potential threat and must disband for good. |
Eta has fought for an independent Basque homeland since the 1960s. | Eta has fought for an independent Basque homeland since the 1960s. |
The group - listed as a terrorist group by the EU and America - has killed some 800 people. | The group - listed as a terrorist group by the EU and America - has killed some 800 people. |
Rumours of a potentially definitive statement have been circulating for several weeks. | |
The Basque conflict has claimed more than 1,000 lives in its 43-year history. | The Basque conflict has claimed more than 1,000 lives in its 43-year history. |
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