Prosecutor Javier Zaragoza, in closing arguments against 27 of the 29 accused in Madrid 3-11 attacks, took time to criticize what he called the "parallel process based on unfounded suspicions" of involvement by the Basque separatist group ETA. In his remarks, he even called for criminal charges for contempt of court against Agustín Díaz de Mera, Director General of Police at the time of the attack and a top promoter of the ETA theory. (Typically Spanish, June 12)

Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said in a TV interview June 14 that there have been high-level talks with ETA in a bid to head off renewed violence following the group's announcement that it is ending a 15-month self-imposed ceasefire. "There have been direct and indirect contacts during a short period," Zapatero said. Authorites say that despite the ceasefire, ETA was behind a car bomb explosion at Madrid's airport on Dec. 30, which killed two and officially ended a tentative peace process. (AP, June 9)

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