Speaking to journalists yesterday after a Good Friday parade in Balmaseda, regional Basque president (el lehendakari), Juan José Ibarretxe, identified "the presence of ETA" as the main obstacle preventing the outlawed Batasuna party from taking part in the forthcoming local and regional elections, and said that they must "demand that ETA renounce violence once and for all." With respect to the peace process, and efforts to restore political normalcy, Mr Ibarrtexe said that "we're at a delicate stage."

Meanwhile, for her part, the first vice-president of the Spanish government, María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, who was speaking in Beijing, stated that any new evidence that might prove a link between the Basque communist party (PCTV) and ETA, would be investigated thoroughly by the state security forces, and that the final ruling would be made by the judiciary.

Responding to the recent outbreak of 'kale borroka' street violence, Vizcaya provincial PSE-EE president, José Antonio Pastor (photo, left), said that it was further proof of Batasuna spokesman, Arnaldo Otegi's "lack of sincerity and credibility" when he speaks of his "commitment to the political and democratic process" Mr Pastor was speaking at scene of a fire-bomb attack during the early hours of yesterday morning on the socialist party's headquarters in Barakaldo's Cruces district.