Doubts have arisen in Spain over a report that the Basque separatist group ETA is about to announce an end to its thirty-year armed campaign against the authorities.

The report in a newspaper article had said that the current ceasefire announced last month would shortly be made permanent.

The Spanish Interior Minister welcomed the report, but urged ETA to provide confirmation.

Other reports have denied that an announcement is imminent, and quote the movement's political wing, Herri Batasuna, as saying it was political manipulation by the Spanish government.

The majority of ETA members are reported to be in favour of a permanent peace.

The Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar, recently demanded that ETA make what he called clear concrete commitments to begin a peace process.