Spain, The Basque separatist group Eta has declared a permanent and internationally verifiable ceasefire.
It says the move is a step towards ending its fight for an independent state in northern Spain and south-west France.
The organisation, formed in 1959, has killed more than 850 people during its armed struggle but recently has been crippled by arrests and a rise in support among Basques for legal politics.
In its statement, in the pro-independence newspaper Gara, the group does not mention whether it will give up its weapons – a key Spanish government demand.
Eta declared a ceasefire last September but gave no details about how long it would last.
It says the move is a step towards ending its fight for an independent state in northern Spain and south-west France.
The organisation, formed in 1959, has killed more than 850 people during its armed struggle but recently has been crippled by arrests and a rise in support among Basques for legal politics.
In its statement, in the pro-independence newspaper Gara, the group does not mention whether it will give up its weapons – a key Spanish government demand. Eta declared a ceasefire last September but gave no details about how long it would last.
