Monks questioned in Eta inquiry

Two Benedictine monks suspected of links with the Basque separatist group Eta have been arrested at monasteries in Spain and France.

Father Juan Jose Aguirre Begiristain was arrested in the town of Lazkao, while Marcel Echandi was arrested in Urt on the French side of the Pyrenees.

Both are suspected of having links to the alleged Eta leader, Mikel Antza, who was arrested in France in October.

A car bomb blast claimed by Eta injured 43 people in Madrid on Wednesday.

On the same day, a police operation in the Basque country, Navarre and Valencia resulted in the arrest of 14 suspected members of Eta.

Last week the Spanish parliament rejected a plan for even greater autonomy for the Basque country.