The official count of Venezuelans who participated in the election of an all-powerful constituent assembly was tampered with - off by at least one million votes - the head of a voting technology company said.

A SPANISH judge has withdrawn from the murder trial of four members of Basque separatist group ETA after an open microphone in court caught her calling them “bastards.”

THE arrest in France of two suspected leaders of the outlawed Basque separatists ETA significantly weakened the armed group, Spainish justice minister Angel Acebes said yesterday.

French police have arrested two Basque militants considered top leaders of the armed separatist group Eta’s commando units, the Interior Ministry said.

A policeman was shot twice in the Basque town of Tolosa tonight in what looked to be another attack by the separatist group ETA.