ETA bomb marks 'full stop' in peace process
Says Spanish PM
Afp, Madrid
In his strongest comments since a deadly ETA bombing a week ago, Spain's prime minister said Saturday that the blast marked a "full stop" in efforts to negotiate a lasting peace in the Basque region. Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's remarks came after King Juan Carlos called for Spaniards to stand united in the face of terrorism as the capital marked a day of mourning. Zapatero, whose left-wing government launched efforts to negotiate a lasting peace in March 2006 after an ETA ceasefire, had previously stopped short of saying the blast had destroyed his efforts. Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said on Tuesday that ETA "broke off, liquidated, finished the peace process" with the blast, but Zapatero himself had appeared to keep the door open. Immediately after the bombing, Zapatero said only that he was "suspending" peace efforts, adding on Thursday that he was more determined than ever to see the process through.
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