Spanish separatists ready for ceasefire

[rodbarnett]

MADRID, Spain (AP) - The Basque separatist group ETA may call a unilateral ceasefire in its campaign of violence, a founder and other Basque sources said, in an effort to win political concessions from the newly elected Socialists due to take power next month.

The announcement came amid reports that Prime Minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero intends to increase Spanish troop numbers in Afghanistan to offset criticism of his decision to withdraw from Iraq.

Leading Spanish daily El Pais said Zapatero wished to overcome the interpretation that a withdrawal from Iraq amounted to cowering after the March 11 bombings and to demonstrate Spain's commitment to fighting international terrorism by increasing its 125 troops in Afghanistan.

El Pais gave no details about how many more troops might be sent to Afghanistan.

Julen Madariaga, a founding member of ETA, said he thought a truce could be called soon.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2004/03/24/393056-ap.html

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[JoFerret]

2. Interesting turn of events

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