Eta urges Spanish polls boycott

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Basque separatist group Eta has called on its supporters to boycott Spain's forthcoming general elections.

The call was made in a statement sent to Gara, a Basque newspaper often used as the group's mouthpiece.

It allegedly says the elections herald "a new period of repression" against the Basque people.

Eta ended a 15-month ceasefire in June 2006 after failed peace talks. The prospect of talks remains a contentious issue ahead of the 9 March vote.

Polls suggest Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's Socialists have a slight lead over the opposition conservative Popular Party led by Mariano Rajoy.

Eta has killed more than 800 people in Spain during its 40-year campaign for independence.

Pre-election warning

Gara said Eta's statement would be published in full on Saturday.

It allegedly says the polls will only serve to "legitimise the repressive legislation" of the Spanish government.

Eta resumed its violent campaign for independence after failed talks

The statement came after a bomb exploded in the doorway of the ruling Socialist Party headquarters in the Basque town of Derio.

No-one was injured in the pre-dawn blast, which came after a warning call to Spanish emergency services, ostensibly made by Eta.

Spanish Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba had warned of a surge in violence when the Spanish election campaign started.

"We believe Eta will try to kill before the elections," he said.

Security forces were mobilised to protect rallies, party headquarters, shopping centres and other sites.