International   

Row over ETA deal

Madrid: A claim that the Basque separatist group ETA is to make a symbolic handover of arms has added fuel to an already heated debate in Spain over whether the Government should be negotiating a peace deal. Intereconomia radio station said the group was preparing to hand over some 100 of the 350 pistols it stole from a French arms dealership last October. ``It would be a public relations exercise for the group, which would in no way diminish its operational capacity,'' the station said in a press release. Spain's Interior Ministry refused to comment on the report. It came as the poll ratings of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero suffered in the wake of a decision to allow ETA hunger striker Inaki de Juana Chaos to serve out a prison sentence under house arrest. Polls show fewer than a third of Spaniards approve of the measure, while Opposition politicians accuse Mr Zapatero of bending to ETA's will. Hundreds of thousands of people protested in Madrid at the weekend against the decision. —

© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2006

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

All Pakistan awaits return of Hindu judge
China passes property law
Focus on poorer sections
Musharraf apologises for attack on TV
Fierce fighting in Sri Lanka
Bush move to prevent aid cut to Pakistan
Two friends walk on
Nepal parties discuss interim government
Call for democracy in Fiji
Row over ETA deal
Indian origin fashion designer held

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu