A Spanish judge jailed 17 members of Batasuna – the banned political wing of the armed separatist group ETA.

A judge today began questioning 23 senior members of Batasuna – the banned political wing of the armed separatist group ETA – arrested in raids in the northern Basque region.

A senior member of the Basque separatist movement said the arrest of 23 of his fellow party members amounted to a “declaration of war” by the Spanish government.

The entire top leadership of an outlawed Basque political party linked to Spanish terrorist group ETA have been arrested in a police raid.