Basque leader meets King Juan Carlos

Ibarretxe's moderate nationalist party favours dialogue

By Flora Botsford in Madrid

King Juan Carlos of Spain has held a private meeting with the Basque President, Juan Jose Ibarretxe, amid continuing speculation that the Basque government is seeking a referendum on self-determination.

Basque government officials earlier denied media reports that the issue would be raised at today's meeting.

The Madrid government has warned that to pursue a referendum would lead to greater tension in the Basque region.

After more than an hour of private talks with the King, Mr Ibarretxe left the palace without making any public comment on their discussions.

Seeking peaceful solutions

But a Basque government official said Mr Ibarretxe had outlined the main priorities of the new parliament after his recent re-election: to fight violence by the Basque separatist group, ETA, which has so far this year killed 11 people, and to encourage an exchange of opinions in favour of peace and liberty.

He said that while Mr Ibarretxe was seeking solutions on the pacification of the Basque country, his government would also be looking to develop self-determination.

The ETA separatist group has killed 11 people this year

But earlier media reports that Mr Ibarretxe was seeking a referendum on independence to be held within two years have been categorically denied.

The secretary-general of the governing Popular Party in Madrid, Javier Arenas, said it would not be possible under the Spanish constitution, which he said requires any referendum to be called by the Spanish state and is unlikely in this case.

But Mr Ibarretxe has said that he wants a full parliamentary debate on the issue in the autumn, and for public consultation on self-determination to be as wide as possible.