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The leader of Spain’s conservative opposition Thursday called for the total disbanding of armed Basque separatist group ETA after it promised a “definitive” end to violence.
“We consider this an important step, but the peace of mind of Spaniards will only be complete when ETA is irreversibly dissolved and completely disbanded,” Mariano Rajoy, widely expected to win next month’s parliamentary election, told a news conference.
“It is good news that ETA has renounced for good imposing its political aims through violence and fear.”
ETA declared a historic end to more than 40 years of bombing and shooting in a statement published online on Thursday.
Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, in his last weeks of power before the elections on November 20, welcomed it as a victory for democracy.