ETA declares permanent ceasefire

The Basque terrorist group ETA today declared a permanent ceasefire, calling it a step toward ending its fight for independence. A statement in the pro-independence newspaper Gara did not mention ETA giving up its weapons, a key Spanish government...

The Basque terrorist group ETA today declared a permanent ceasefire, calling it a step toward ending its fight for independence.

A statement in the pro-independence newspaper Gara did not mention ETA giving up its weapons, a key Spanish government demand.

ETA declared a ceasefire in September but gave no details about how long it would last.

The new statement specifies it is a "permanent and general ceasefire which will be verifiable by the international community."

The Spanish government rejected the ceasefire announcement and demanded that ETA dissolve.

Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said current and previous governments have repeatedly said all they want to hear from ETA is that it is disarming and giving up.

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