For the first time since president Zapatero's socialist party came to power in 2004, a handful of convicted ETA terrorists have been moved from top security jails in the south and centre of Spain to prisons nearer the Basque Country.

All have been behind bars for a considerable number of years and have publicly repudiated violence as a means to achieving political objectives.

Apart from being closer to their families, they will be spared the harshest penitentiary conditions and will no longer be mixing with other ETA terrorists who continue to defend the armed struggle.

Among those moved to Zuera jail in Zaragoza and Villabona jail in Asturias are: Francisco Múgica Garmendia, alias 'Pakito', Iñaki de Rentería, José Luis Urrusolo Sistiaga, Valentín Lasarte and Carmen Guisasola.

Back in 2004, a letter signed by Pakito and others was sent to ETA high command calling on them to lay down their arms, and in which they admitted: "We've never felt so bad. The way things stand now, the violent struggle is no longer valid."

According to a report in yesterday's El Mundo newspaper, Interior minister, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba (photo), discussed the move with his counterpart in the Partido Popular, Federico Trillo, who gave his consent.