Spanish leader to seek joint stance on Eta cease-fire

Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was to meet the leader of the conservative opposition Popular Party today to discuss what path to take after the cease-fire announcement by the armed Basque group Eta.

Government sources said Zapatero would assure the Popular Party’s Mariano Rajoy that he intends to keep him fully abreast of developments in any negotiations. The Popular Party is likely to push for guarantees that no political price will be paid in exchange for Eta halting its violent campaign.