Spain starting peace talks with Eta guerrillas

Prime Minister Zapatero said the peace process would be difficult. Picture / Reuters.

MADRID - Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said on Thursday his government would start peace talks with Basque separatist guerrillas ETA to try to end Western Europe's last major violent conflict after 38 years.

Zapatero, a socialist, will face resistance from the opposition conservative Popular Party, which immediately rejected the negotiations with ETA, which has killed 850 people but declared a permanent ceasefire in March.

"The process is going to be long, hard and difficult. We will take on the task with determination and prudence, with unity and loyalty, and, always, always, with respect for the memory of the victims," Zapatero told a news conference in Spain's parliament building.

He gave no details of where or when talks would take place but said Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba would brief political parties on their progress at the end of September.

ETA's ceasefire came after police in Spain and France arrested hundreds of suspects since 2000 and weakened its armed struggle for independence for the Basque Country, which straddles northern Spain and south-west France.

Polls show most Basques do not want to be independent and ETA's tactics were undermined by growing public revulsion against violence since Islamist train bombings in Madrid in 2004.

The peace talks will likely focus on issues such as transferring ETA prisoners nearer to the Basque Country and disarmament. ETA also wants a vote on the region's future.

Negotiations will have to overcome fierce resistance from the Popular Party. The PP broke off support for talks earlier in June when Socialist officials announced plans to meet members of Batasuna - a political party banned because of links to ETA.

"Any normal person understands you can't negotiate with someone whose negotiating weapon is as powerful and hard to argue with as a pistol," said PP leader Mariano Rajoy.

- REUTERS