Wave of ETA arrests continued: 4 suspects of Dec 2006 Madrid airport bombing arrested 15 Feb. Violent protests in San Sebastian, Bilbao 14 Feb followed arrest of 11 activists and 2 senior members of banned separatist Batasuna. Minor explosions in Arnotegi 23 Feb and near courthouse in Bergera 7 Feb.

Further ETA arrests: 2 detained 6 Jan for carrying out fatal Dec 2006 car park bombing at Madrid Airport; 3 extradited from UK for alleged involvement in Feb 2006 bomb attack in Motrico. French police arrested leading ETA member Ainhoa Adin Jaurehui 29 Jan. 10 others detained for ETA-linked urban attacks during month. Government authorised action 25 Jan to outlaw 2 Basque parties linked to banned separatist Batasuna party.

ETA claimed responsibility for bombing in Sestao, Northern Spain, 16 December, and separate attack on ruling party offices in Balmaseda, Basque Country, 24 December. Attacks followed ETA’s 14 December pledge to continue campaign against Spanish government. 8-year National Court trial ended with conviction of 47 for ETA links 19 December.

1 Spanish police officer killed, 1 injured by ETA suspects in Capbreton, France, 1 December. Over 40 convicted of aiding ETA rounded up by Spanish police 29 November; sentencing to begin December. Government denied media reports of secret October meeting with ETA representatives on Austrian-German border.

Police arrested 25 leading members of banned separatist Batasuna party 2, 4 October; provisionally charged 17 with membership of armed group. ETA suspected in car bomb attack on bodyguard of local counsellor in Bilbao 9 October. PM Zapatero rejected Basque regional president Ibarretxe’s proposals for a 2008 referendum on region’s future relationship with Spain. Basque Country judge ruled Ibarretxe and 2 Socialist Party members must stand trial for meeting Batasuna leaders in 2006, early 2007.

Arrests of suspected ETA members continued across French border: 4 detained in joint police operation in Cahors 1 September; 13 held 24 September over 2006 French hotel bombing. ETA statement 9 September claimed responsibility for series of attacks since July; vowed to continue. Minor explosions on highway 2 September and outside police station in Zarautz 25 September. ETA member Jose Maria Arregi Erostarbe sentenced 26 years for 1990 attempted murder of official.

Van packed with explosives blew up outside police station in Durango 24 August; 2 police injured. Similar explosion 27 August in field near Castellon appeared connected to aborted plans to bomb resort; owners of van abducted, released. ETA suspected in both attacks.

French police arrested Juan Cruz Maiza Artola, suspected logistics chief of ETA, and 2 others near Toulouse 26 July. ETA claimed responsibility for 2 bomb explosions along Spanish section of Tour de France cycle route 25 July.

ETA declared end to 15- month ceasefire 5 June. Day later former ETA leader Jose Ignacio de Juana Chaos, under house arrest since March, re-jailed. Batasuna leader Arnoldo Otegi also arrested, to start 15-month sentence for glorifying terrorism. PM Zapatero admitted government held secret talks with ETA before December 2006 Madrid airport bombing.

27 May local elections saw moderate Basque Nationalist Party retain dominance in municipalities; pro-Basque Naforra Bai party came second in regional poll in neighbouring Navarre. Run up saw low-level violence and protests against exclusion of many Basque nationalist lists. Constitutional Court confirmed Supreme Court bar of 246 Basque Nationalist Socialist and 133 Basque National Action candidates as continuation of banned Batasuna Party. Bilbao rally protested decision 12 May. Home-made car-bomb targeting local socialist party candidate Jose Antonio Elola failed to detonate in Zarautz 24 May. ETA member Jon Bienzobas sentenced to 30 years for 1996 assassination of former head of Constitutional Court Francisco Tomás y Valiente. Government denied media reports diplomats had met ETA members in April.