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| Spain's PM admits Eta 'mistake' | Spain's PM admits Eta 'mistake' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Spain's prime minister says he made a "clear mistake" by being too optimistic about the prospect of peace talks with the Basque separatist group Eta. | |
| Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said he had predicted an improvement in the peace process - the day before a bomb attack on 30 December claimed by Eta. | Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said he had predicted an improvement in the peace process - the day before a bomb attack on 30 December claimed by Eta. |
| He called for a "great democratic consensus against terrorism" on Monday. | He called for a "great democratic consensus against terrorism" on Monday. |
| On Saturday, more than 200,000 people in Spain protested over the bomb blast that killed two at Madrid airport. | On Saturday, more than 200,000 people in Spain protested over the bomb blast that killed two at Madrid airport. |
| "Although it is not frequent among public leaders, I want to admit to all Spanish citizens the clear mistake I made," Mr Zapatero told a special session of parliament. | "Although it is not frequent among public leaders, I want to admit to all Spanish citizens the clear mistake I made," Mr Zapatero told a special session of parliament. |
| "Eta wasted the opportunity to contribute... to a better future for everyone, and by this decision Eta strives to prolong criminal activity which has already lasted more than four decades," he said. | "Eta wasted the opportunity to contribute... to a better future for everyone, and by this decision Eta strives to prolong criminal activity which has already lasted more than four decades," he said. |
| He said Eta had in effect broken the peace process launched in March, and that there could be no dialogue while the group was engaged in violence. | He said Eta had in effect broken the peace process launched in March, and that there could be no dialogue while the group was engaged in violence. |
| However, Mr Zapatero said he hoped Eta would accept sooner rather than later that words were superior to weapons. | However, Mr Zapatero said he hoped Eta would accept sooner rather than later that words were superior to weapons. |
| He also called for unity among mainstream parties, saying it was the best way to overcome the problem. | He also called for unity among mainstream parties, saying it was the best way to overcome the problem. |
| The deaths of two Ecuadorean migrants at Madrid's Barajas airport were the first attributed to Eta in more than three years. | The deaths of two Ecuadorean migrants at Madrid's Barajas airport were the first attributed to Eta in more than three years. |
| The group - which declared a permanent ceasefire in March - is seeking an independent state in northern Spain and south-west France. | The group - which declared a permanent ceasefire in March - is seeking an independent state in northern Spain and south-west France. |