France arrests major Eta suspect

Juan Artola is believed to be Eta's logistics chief

The suspected logistics chief of the armed Basque separatist group Eta and two others have been arrested in the south of France, Spanish officials say.

Juan Cruz Maiza Artola was described as Eta's head of logistics and the number three in the organisation.

The Spanish interior ministry said two other Eta suspects were arrested with him in the town of Rodez.

A total of 22 Eta suspects have been arrested since the group ended its ceasefire on 5 June, the ministry says.

The two held with Mr Artola were named as Iker Iparraguirre Galarraga and a woman, Galder Bihotz Cornago Arnaez.

Eta, outlawed in Spain, has waged a violent campaign since the 1960s for an independent Basque state in northern Spain and south-west France.

Eta has been blamed for killing more than 800 people in its campaign, including members of the Guardia Civil, Spain's national police force, and both local and national politicians opposed to Eta's separatist demands.