Spanish government to start peace talks with ETA

Spanish government to start peace talks with ETA

The announcement had been expected after a severely weakened Eta declared a "permanent ceasefire" in March. For nearly 40 years it had carried out attacks that claimed more than 800 lives, Guardian Unlimited reports.

'No negotiations with assassins' - that was the rallying cry of several hundred people in Madrid who were protesting against the government's decision to start peace talks with ETA. The demonstration was staged by a support group for those affected by the terror campaign of the Basque separatist organisation. Their anger was directed at Zapatero, according to the Euro News.