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Eta blamed for killing in France Eta blamed for killing in France
(about 23 hours later)
A Spanish civil guard has been killed and another badly wounded after being shot by suspected members of the Basque group Eta in south-western France.A Spanish civil guard has been killed and another badly wounded after being shot by suspected members of the Basque group Eta in south-western France.
The two men were taking part in a joint surveillance operation with French police against Eta suspects.The two men were taking part in a joint surveillance operation with French police against Eta suspects.
Spanish PM Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero condemned the attack and said Spain was united by "deep disgust".Spanish PM Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero condemned the attack and said Spain was united by "deep disgust".
It was the first killing attributed to Eta since the group ended a ceasefire in June.It was the first killing attributed to Eta since the group ended a ceasefire in June.
The two plain-clothed officers were shot from close range as they were getting into their cars outside a restaurant at about 0930 (0830 GMT) on Saturday, in the Atlantic resort of Capbreton, police sources said. The two plain-clothed officers were shot from close range as they were getting into their cars outside a cafe at about 0930 (0830 GMT) on Saturday, in the Atlantic resort of Capbreton, police sources said.
Raul Centeno died and Fernando Trapero was seriously injured. Mr Zapatero described both men as "very young".Raul Centeno died and Fernando Trapero was seriously injured. Mr Zapatero described both men as "very young".
Police were reportedly hunting two men and a woman who fled the scene.
"Spanish society - united today by [their] sacrifice... shows its deep disgust with those who - scorning the most fundamental right, the right to life - are trying to frighten the citizens as a whole," Mr Zapatero said.
"Forty years of black terrorist history haven't been enough for them to realise the great strength of Spanish society. Hundreds of deaths and hundreds of victims haven't made them understand that they won't achieve anything with violence."
Spanish Civil Guard Raul Centeno was described as "very young"
French Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said the joint police operation was being carried out against Eta members "who come to French territory to seek refuge or to prepare operations".French Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said the joint police operation was being carried out against Eta members "who come to French territory to seek refuge or to prepare operations".
She said the shooting apparently followed a "chance encounter" between the undercover agents and the suspects in the cafe.
After a confrontation the guards were murdered "in cold blood", Ms Alliot-Marie said.
French police are hunting three suspects - two men and a woman - who fled the scene, kidnapping a woman and driving her car north, before leaving her tied to a tree in a forest near Bordeaux, 160km (100 miles) away.
'Violence futile'
Mr Zapatero condemned the killers.
"Spanish society - united today by the sacrifice of Raul Centeno and Fernando Trapero shows its deep disgust with those who - scorning the most fundamental right, the right to life - are trying to frighten the citizens as a whole," he said.
Spanish Civil Guard Raul Centeno was described as "very young"
"Forty years of black terrorist history haven't been enough for them to realise the great strength of Spanish society. Hundreds of deaths and hundreds of victims haven't made them understand that they won't achieve anything with violence."
Eta uses parts of south-western France as a base, even though it carries out most of its operations against Spanish targets in Spain.Eta uses parts of south-western France as a base, even though it carries out most of its operations against Spanish targets in Spain.
Spanish media said it appeared to be the first killing by Eta in France in decades.
The group wants an independent Basque state in northern Spain and south-western France.The group wants an independent Basque state in northern Spain and south-western France.
It declared a ceasefire in March 2006 but broke it with a car bombing at Madrid airport in December 2006 that killed two people.It declared a ceasefire in March 2006 but broke it with a car bombing at Madrid airport in December 2006 that killed two people.
It formally ended its truce in June.It formally ended its truce in June.