ETA seeks talks, Spain Socialists scoff at it

Basque separatist group ETA called for dialogue with Spain’s incoming government but pledged to maintain its armed campaign for an independent homeland, according to a new communique. The overture follows PM-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero’s surprise win in last week’s polls and the March 11 Madrid train bombings, initially blamed on ETA but now linked to Muslim militants.

The Socialists immediately poured cold water on the words of a ‘‘terrorist’’ organisation. ‘‘We give no validity to a communique from ETA which is a terrorist group,’’ a spokeswoman said. Sources in the moderate nationalist Basque regional government were also unimpressed.

ETA has killed some 840 people in a four-decade struggle for a Basque homeland in northeastern Spain and southwestern France. ‘‘We are totally disposed to achieve the solution through dialogue. It is possible via reason and common sense,’’ ETA said, according to a statement, published on Basque paper Gara’s website http://www.gara.es. —(Reuters)