BBC News | EUROPE | In Pictures: Basques go the polls

BBC News Online: World: Europe

Sunday, 13 May, 2001, 14:29 GMT 15:29 UK

Voters in Spain's Basque autonomous region are going to the polls to elect a new parliament and with it the regional president, or Lehendakari.

A record number of police have been drafted in to keep order in an election overshadowed by violence by the separatist group ETA.

Nuns vote in San Sebastian

Protesters from the outlawed separatist youth group Haika carry banners which read

Jaime Mayor Oreja, the Popular Party candidate

Juan Jose Ibarretxe, current Basque President and candidate, talks to regional police

Arnaldo Otegi, the leader of Euskar Herritarrok, the political arm of ETA

French and Spanish Basques protest in Saint-Jean-de-Luz in southwestern France

Related to this story:
High alert as Basques vote (13 May 01 | Europe) Madrid blast ahead of Basque elections (12 May 01 | Europe) Young Basques dream of independence (10 May 01 | Europe) Spanish politician shot dead (06 May 01 | Europe) Living on the ETA hitlist (10 May 01 | Europe) Country profile: Spain (05 Mar 01 | Country profiles)

Internet links: Basque fight for freedom site | Spanish Interior Ministry |
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