A total of 10 people, nine of them connected with the banned political party Batasuna, have been arrested in the Basque country cities of San Sebastian, Pamplona and Hernani. They are accused of trying to reorganize the political wing of ETA, the armed separatist group, under a new name, after Batasuna was banned in 2003.

ETA is linked to the deaths of more than 800 people in a four-decade old campaign for independence in the Basque country. The operation was ordered by Judge Baltazar Garzón. The detainees include the former spokesman of Batasuna, and the leader of a union affiliated with the separatist movement. AFP, El Pais (Spa)