Spain cautious on ceasefire

8220;Peace has no political price,8221; right-wing newspaper ABC wrote in an editorial. 8220;Clearly ETA is keeping to its objectives but is looking to reach them via a truce.8221; But the government has reacted with caution to the ETA announcement.

Some 850 people have died in ETA8217;s four-decade-long campaign to carve out an independent state between northern Spain and southwest France. It has not killed anybody since 2003, limiting itself to small bombs and extortion.

Commentators linked the truce to the Socialist government8217;s moves to hand more power to the northeast region of Catalonia, moves that would go some way to satisfying ETA demands.

Congress approved a new statute for Catalonia on Tuesday, recognising it as a 8220;nation8221; in Spain8212;wording that horrifies patriots who see it as a first step in national disintegration.

8220;Recognising Catalonia as a nation means the Basque Country can equally well be one. The fact the ceasefire came yesterday, at the first opportunity after the statute was approved, says it all,8221; said a commentator on the Catholic radio station COPE.

The Basque Country has full autonomy over its finances and, like other regions, has a powerful regional government and responsibility for its own health and education services.

ETA8217;s goal is for 8220;self-determination8221;8212; understood as a referendum and declaration of independence. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has ruled this out.

ETA said political change now needed to come through8221;dialogue, negotiation and agreement8221;. Zapatero, who welcomed the truce with 8220;caution and prudence8221;is due to talk to the right-wing Opposition about the way forward next week.

Analysts questioned what made this ceasefire different from past truces which only lasted months. 8212;Julia Hayley