Basque Rebels Threaten End to 14-Month-Old Cease-Fire

The Basque separatist group ETA, threatening to plunge Spain into a renewed cycle of bombings and assassinations, faced mounting appeals Sunday to reconsider its decision to end its 14-month-old cease-fire.

While leading politicians brimmed with condemnation for ETA, clergymen and human rights activists issued pleas for the guerrillas to keep to the cease-fire.

ETA, which stands for Basque Homeland and Freedom, said its decision stemmed from “repressive attacks” by Spanish and French police and the failure of moderate Basque nationalists to work toward creating an independent state.

Caught off guard, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar accused ETA of “terrorist blackmail” and vowed that the illegal extremist separatist group would not prevail through the use of violence.

The French government called ETA’s decision “deplorable” and pledged to continue cooperating with Spanish authorities.

ETA has been blamed for more than 800 deaths in its three-decade-long fight for an independent state carved out of northern Spain and southern France.

From across the political spectrum, ETA was targeted for scathing criticism over its latest move, which raised fears of a renewed campaign of separatist violence.

Some analysts believe that even if ETA restarts its violent campaign, it may be too weak to do much damage. Interior Ministry sources say a police crackdown has reduced its ranks to no more than 50 active fighters.