End of ETA may be near: Spanish government source

MADRID, Jan 17 (AFP) - The armed struggle of the Basque separatist group ETA may be coming to an end, a senior Spanish government source said Monday, a day after ETA indicated its support to opening a dialogue.
"It is possible we will rapidly see the end of ETA. They must give us very clear proof, such as the abandonment of arms and terrorism," the source told reporters in Madrid.
The source spoke following a statement by ETA on Sunday that said the group backed an initiative by its political wing to open dialogue with the Spanish government on solving the Basque problem.

01/17/2005 18:14 GMT - AFP