French arrest 'senior Eta leader'

Harriet Aguirre was wanted by the French and Spanish authorities

The suspected second-in-command of the Basque separatist group Eta has been arrested in France, said Spain's Interior Minister Jose Antonio Alonso.

Harriet Aguirre was detained with two other alleged Eta members by French police in Aurillac, he said.

He described Mr Aguirre as "number two" of Eta's "military structure".

"This is a very important operation against the leadership of the military structure of the terrorist organisation," he added.

Firearms were also reportedly found by police at the house in the town in central France where the three were staying.

Mr Aguirre is suspected of carrying out the 2001 murder of Spanish Socialist deputy mayor Froilan Elespe.

Also captured were Idoia Mendizabal, a female alleged senior Eta leader, and a third unidentified suspect.

Ms Mendizabal is suspected of being involved in a 2002 car bomb attack on the leader of a Socialist youth group, Eduardo Mundo.

New Talks

Eta has claimed responsibility for two attacks in the past 10 days, including a car bomb in the town of Berrocalejo de Aragona on 24 September that caused damage but no injuries.

Six of its members were arrested in northern Spain in July.

The BBC's Katya Adler says there have been months of speculation in Spain about an imminent Eta ceasefire.

The group said in a statement in June that it was willing to enter into talks with the Spanish government, but not to disarm.

The statement also said that the group would end attacks on politicians.

The Spanish government says it will talk to Eta, but only if it gives up violence.

More than 800 people have died during Eta's 30-year armed campaign for an independent Basque state.