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Spain frees notorious Eta killer | Spain frees notorious Eta killer |
(40 minutes later) | |
A Basque separatist convicted of killing 25 people has been freed from jail in Spain after serving 21 years. | A Basque separatist convicted of killing 25 people has been freed from jail in Spain after serving 21 years. |
The release of Jose Ignacio de Juana Chaos has sparked outrage in Spain. | The release of Jose Ignacio de Juana Chaos has sparked outrage in Spain. |
Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero spoke of his "contempt" for the former Eta militant, but said his government had to respect the law. | Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero spoke of his "contempt" for the former Eta militant, but said his government had to respect the law. |
De Juana Chaos was sentenced to more than 3,000 years in 1987, but under the penal code then in force, the maximum term he could serve was 30 years. | |
He qualified for early release in 2004 but was given a further term for threatening behaviour. | He qualified for early release in 2004 but was given a further term for threatening behaviour. |
De Juana Chaos took part in a string of Eta attacks, including one of the group's deadliest - a Madrid car-bombing in 1986 which killed 12 members of the Guardia Civil police force. | |
In recent years he carried out several hunger strikes to protest against his treatment by the authorities. | In recent years he carried out several hunger strikes to protest against his treatment by the authorities. |
Mr Zapatero said De Juana Chaos "generates a perfectly understandable feeling of contempt" among all citizens "and of course the head of the government". | |
"But we must respect the law," the prime minister added. | "But we must respect the law," the prime minister added. |
The group has killed more than 800 people in its four-decade campaign to set up an independent state straddling northern Spain and south-western France. | The group has killed more than 800 people in its four-decade campaign to set up an independent state straddling northern Spain and south-western France. |
The release of De Juana Chaos came 40 years to the day after Eta carried out its first targeted killing. |
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