Tens of thousands of supporters of the political arm of the Basque separatist group ETA have marched in their first large gathering since their leaders were convicted of collaborating with the armed group.

Members of the Basque coalition Herri Batasuna led marchers silently along the centre of the Basque city of Bilbao in support of the jailed politicians.

Neither the organisers nor police gave an estimate of the number of marchers.

The demonstration ended peacefully with addresses by supporters of Herri Batasuna, a party backed by between 10% to 15% of voters in the northern Basque region.

The entire 23-person leadership of the party was sentenced to seven years in jail on December 1 for collaborating with ETA.

Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's government, like its Socialist predecessor, refuses to deal with ETA until it lays down arms.

Spain's main political parties accepted the verdict against Herri Batasuna while others, particularly in the Basque region, saw it as too harsh.

The party warned that the seven-year sentences would have "serious and direct consequences."

On the day most of the 23 were jailed, suspected ETA gunmen shot and wounded the bodyguard of a Popular Party councilor in San Sebastian. A week later 64-year-old city councilor Jose Luis Caso was shot dead.

Basque union groups, which had initially called a demonstration to protest the verdict, cancelled their rally following Caso's death.

Nearly 50,000 Spaniards demonstrated on December 13 in San Sebastian to protest at the politician's murder.

In keeping with its custom, Herri Batasuna refused to join other political groups in condemning Mr Caso's killing.
 

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