Basque Separatists Lay Down Arms

Hope this is a “I will fight no more forever” declaration. After more than 40 years of violent struggle for independence in the traditional Basque region in Spain and France, the separatist group ETA said its armed campaign is over. It has promised a unilateral end to its campaigns of bombings and shootings that have killed more than 800 people. The group called on Spanish and French governments to respond with “a process of direct dialogue.” Analysts say ETA has been badly weakened by security crackdowns in recent years.