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| Spanish PM Zapatero hails end to Basque Eta violence | Spanish PM Zapatero hails end to Basque Eta violence |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Spain's prime minister has hailed the end of Basque separatist group Eta's armed campaign as a "victory for democracy, law and reason". | Spain's prime minister has hailed the end of Basque separatist group Eta's armed campaign as a "victory for democracy, law and reason". |
| Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said the 800 victims of Eta's 40-year struggle would not be forgotten and the "terror" should never happen again. | Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said the 800 victims of Eta's 40-year struggle would not be forgotten and the "terror" should never happen again. |
| His defence minister has ruled out negotiations with Eta - a key demand in the group's declaration. | His defence minister has ruled out negotiations with Eta - a key demand in the group's declaration. |
| Spanish politicians previously rejected similar announcements by the group. | Spanish politicians previously rejected similar announcements by the group. |
| However, correspondents say this time appears to be different, with Thursday's move the latest step in what Eta has called its transition to peaceful methods. | However, correspondents say this time appears to be different, with Thursday's move the latest step in what Eta has called its transition to peaceful methods. |
| 'Direct dialogue' | 'Direct dialogue' |
| Mr Zapatero said after 40 years of bomb attacks and assassinations, Spain was now experiencing "legitimate satisfaction" at the victory over terror. | Mr Zapatero said after 40 years of bomb attacks and assassinations, Spain was now experiencing "legitimate satisfaction" at the victory over terror. |
| "It is a satisfaction in mourning for the pain caused by violence that should never have happened and that should never happen again," he said. | "It is a satisfaction in mourning for the pain caused by violence that should never have happened and that should never happen again," he said. |
| In a statement provided to the BBC on Thursday, Eta said it had renounced armed struggle as a tool for achieving an independent Basque state - a key demand by the Spanish government. | In a statement provided to the BBC on Thursday, Eta said it had renounced armed struggle as a tool for achieving an independent Basque state - a key demand by the Spanish government. |
| The group said it faced "a historic opportunity to obtain a just and democratic solution to the age-old political conflict." | The group said it faced "a historic opportunity to obtain a just and democratic solution to the age-old political conflict." |
| "Eta has decided on the definitive cessation of its armed activity," the statement said. | "Eta has decided on the definitive cessation of its armed activity," the statement said. |
| The announcement was made in a video showing three Eta members wearing trademark Basque berets and white masks. | The announcement was made in a video showing three Eta members wearing trademark Basque berets and white masks. |
| The group said it would campaign for its cause through peaceful means, and called on the Spanish and French governments to respond with "a process of direct dialogue". | The group said it would campaign for its cause through peaceful means, and called on the Spanish and French governments to respond with "a process of direct dialogue". |
| The new Spanish government to emerge after November's general election is to take charge of any process, said former Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba - who is running on behalf of the Socialist Party in the poll. | The new Spanish government to emerge after November's general election is to take charge of any process, said former Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba - who is running on behalf of the Socialist Party in the poll. |
| However, Defence Minister Carme Chacon told Spanish TV on Friday that there was "nothing to negotiate with Eta". | However, Defence Minister Carme Chacon told Spanish TV on Friday that there was "nothing to negotiate with Eta". |
| Eta's declaration followed a conference this week in the Basque country, attended by international statesmen including former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, and protagonists in the Northern Ireland peace process. | Eta's declaration followed a conference this week in the Basque country, attended by international statesmen including former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, and protagonists in the Northern Ireland peace process. |
| They called on Eta to lay down its arms but also called for a dialogue. | They called on Eta to lay down its arms but also called for a dialogue. |
| 'Total defeat' | 'Total defeat' |
| In September 2010, the group announced to the BBC a decision not to carry out further attacks. | In September 2010, the group announced to the BBC a decision not to carry out further attacks. |
| In January this year, it declared a permanent and "internationally verifiable" ceasefire. | In January this year, it declared a permanent and "internationally verifiable" ceasefire. |
| Relatives of victims killed by Eta say the group must disband and inform the authorities of any weapons or bomb-making material. | Relatives of victims killed by Eta say the group must disband and inform the authorities of any weapons or bomb-making material. |
| "It is the hoped-for end, but not the desired one," Angeles Pedraza, president of a relatives' association, told the AP news agency. | "It is the hoped-for end, but not the desired one," Angeles Pedraza, president of a relatives' association, told the AP news agency. |
| "The victims want the attacks to stop, but we want them to pay for what they have done. We want the total defeat of Eta." | "The victims want the attacks to stop, but we want them to pay for what they have done. We want the total defeat of Eta." |
| Spain's Socialist government has previously insisted that it will not negotiate on demands for Basque self-determination until Eta disbands. | Spain's Socialist government has previously insisted that it will not negotiate on demands for Basque self-determination until Eta disbands. |
| Correspondents say the government is cautious about engaging in another peace process, after the last one failed. | Correspondents say the government is cautious about engaging in another peace process, after the last one failed. |
| It opened contacts with Eta when the group called a "permanent" ceasefire in 2006, only to break it by bombing an airport car park in Madrid, killing two people. | It opened contacts with Eta when the group called a "permanent" ceasefire in 2006, only to break it by bombing an airport car park in Madrid, killing two people. |
| But observers say this time appears to be different, in part because the group is widely considered to have been seriously weakened, by a concerted Spanish and French crackdown. | But observers say this time appears to be different, in part because the group is widely considered to have been seriously weakened, by a concerted Spanish and French crackdown. |
| Dozens of Eta militants, including successive leaders, have been arrested and jailed, and analysts say the group realises its days are numbered. | Dozens of Eta militants, including successive leaders, have been arrested and jailed, and analysts say the group realises its days are numbered. |