Spain suspects ETA hiding in Venezuela

MADRID, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Spain is investigating rumors that Venezuela has granted citizenship to four suspected members of the Basque separatist group ETA, El Pais reported Tuesday.

Though relations between Madrid and Caracas are strong, Spain's foreign ministry has warned that ties would be strained if Venezuela was harboring members of ETA, considered by Spain to be a terrorist group.

ETA attacks along the Spanish-French border, where the group has called for its own homeland, have left some 850 people dead in the last three decades.

Spain is currently conducting peace talks with the group, though violence in the region has increased in recent weeks.