ETA blamed for two more murders

Masked police inspect car of murdered policeman Mikel Uribe

A Basque policeman has been shot dead in the northern Spanish town of Leaburu, in an attack blamed on the separatist organisation ETA.

Bullfighters in Pamplona observe a minute's silence in honour of Jose Javier Mugica

The attack came just hours after a bomb exploded and killed a local councillor.

Spanish police said that ETA was responsible for that blast.

The Basque policeman, named as Mikel Uribe, was reported to have been shot at least 10 times at close range by several gunmen. He was rushed to hospital in San Sebastian but died soon afterwards.

A few minutes after the attack, the perpetrators were reported to have blown up their get-away vehicle - a usual ETA tactic.

'Completely destroyed'

In the earlier attack, local media said that Jose Javier Mugica was killed at 0800 GMT in the town of Leiza, Navarra province, by a bomb attached to the underside of his van.

This killing brings nothing but pain

Basque regional president

A TV report said the councillor's body was "completely destroyed" by the blast.

The attack came hours before moderate Basque nationalist leader Juan Jose Ibarretxe was sworn in for a second term as president of the Basque Country.

"I want to express my condemnation and deep contempt for ETA's atrocities," Mr Ibarretxe said at the ceremony, in the town of Guernica. "This killing brings nothing but pain."

Navarra province borders the Basque Country and is claimed by ETA for its independent homeland.

Previous threats

Mr Mugica belonged to the centre-right Union of Navarrese People, which is an ally of the ruling Popular Party and is opposed to Basque independence.

He had received threats before - once his van was set alight and his name had appeared in ETA graffiti.

The fatality is the second in the space of a week.

On Tuesday, a policeman was killed in a car bomb attack in a Madrid suburb.

BBC Madrid correspondent Flora Botsford says many Spanish politicians now live under 24-hour armed protection.

ETA considers politicians and members of the security forces as legitimate targets in its armed campaign.

It has killed about 800 people since it began its campaign in 1968.

Mr Mugica's reported death is one of more than 30 blamed on or claimed by ETA since it ended a 14-month ceasefire in January last year.