Basque ETA separatists offer conditions

The Basque separatist group ETA has offered to formally disband if Spain and France release prisoners taken since fighting began in the 1960s. It was the sixth appeal the group has made since it agreed to a cease-fire in October 2011, with neither government responding to the first five, thinkSpain.com reported. The Basque newspaper Gara published the offer for a "'definitive end to all armed confrontation" in exchange for "'bringing home all imprisoned and exiled Basque politicians." ETA expressed frustration neither Spain nor France has responded to similar offers since it announced a cease-fire, the report said. It called for the governments to "break this stalemate" and elaborate on their "'willingness and commitment." Previous terse responses from Spain's Interior Ministry have said the country will only accept a permanent declaration of a cease-fire with no conditions, the report said. ETA has been fighting for a separate country that straddles Spain and France. It is widely considered to be a terrorist organization, although it considers itself a political entity.