Basque separatists announce cease-fire

MADRID, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- The Basque separatist group ETA says it is declaring a permanent cease-fire in its conflict with Spain and France.

In a statement released Saturday, the ETA said the "democratic process" to end the violence must address the "core conflict" and focus on "the keys of territoriality and the right to self-determination" of the Basque people, El Diario reported.

The ETA said its cease-fire was "permanent, comprehensive and verifiable."

"ETA will not relent in their effort and struggle to promote and carry out the democratic process to achieve real democratic situation in Euskal Herria (Basque country)," the statement said.

The statement makes permanent a truce called in September but contained no mention of handing over weapons, a move Spain's socialist government says is key before it will consider entering into negotiations, Britain's Daily Telegraph reported.

The ETA has broken announced cease-fires in the past, most recently in 2006 when a truce ended with a fatal bomb attack at Madrid's airport, the Telegraph said.