The trial of the president of the Basque Country, two socialist leaders and five representatives of the banned Batasuna party starts today at the regional Supreme Tribunal in Bilbao, just over seven weeks before the next round of regional elections.

If convicted of holding illegal peace negotiations with the banned party during the 2006-2007 ETA ceasefire, Juan José Ibarretxe (PNV), Patxi López and Rodolfo Ares (PSE) face jail time and being banned from politics.

For his part, former Batasuna leader, Arnaldo Otegi, faces a rapid return to jail while his four former colleagues could have time added on to their current custodial sentences.

No fewer than 140 accredited journalists, many from outside Spain, will follow the trial.

Yesterday, Mr Otegi described the case as "absurd" and denounced it as another example of the "undemocratic (Spanish) State," regional president Ibarretxe (photo) labelled the trial a "humiliation" for many Basques while Mr López said he was "relaxed."

It is the first time that a Basque regional president ('lehendakari' in Basque) and is the result of accusations filed by the Foro de Ermua and Dignidad y Justicia terror victims associations.

Prosecutors are calling for prison terms of two years and nine months for Mr Ibarretxe, nine months for each of the two socialist leaders as well as subsequent political bans for all three.

For their part, Dignidad y Justicia want Mr Otegi to serve three years, Mr Ibarretxe and Mr Etxeberria to serve two, and one for the rest of the defendants.

The five members of Batasuna are charged with civil disobedience while the 'lehendakari' and the two socialist leaders are charged with being nescessary collaborators.

It is thought likely that the court will clear all eight and that the Foro de Ermua will appeal the ruling at the national Supreme Tribunal in Madrid.