Spain rules out talks with Eta

Spain has ruled out talks with the Basque separatist group Eta even as it welcomed an end to four decades of bombings and shootings following the group’s announcement it was laying down arms.

In a historic statement, Eta announced it was ceasing its bloody 43-year campaign for an independent Basque state in territory straddling northern Spain and south-west France, but the group stopped short of declaring defeat and called on Spain and France to open talks on the conflict.