The World - News from March 28, 1989

Basque guerrillas extended a truce for three months on condition that three of their leaders jailed in France be allowed to participate in talks with the Spanish government. The Interior Ministry, however, which has publicly ruled out political concessions, declined to comment on the guerrillas’ statement. The separatist group ETA, or Basque Homeland and Freedom, which has had several rounds of secret talks with Spanish envoys in Algeria, said a 2 1/2-month cease-fire that expired at midnight Sunday would be extended until June 24. The truce extension was generally welcomed as a step toward ending 21 years of violence in pursuit of independence for the Basque regions of northern Spain.