ETA activist accused of kidnapping acquitted

A Spanish Court has acquitted Gregorio Vicario Setien, a self-declared ETA activist, of the kidnapping of a Basque industrialist. DNA evidence that could have linked Setien to the kidnapping was not presented by the prosecutor. The kidnapping of Jose Maria Aldaya, a prominent Basque businessman, seen here with his family, took place in 1995. He was kept prisoner for nearly a year in a small underground room before being rescued by authorities. Meanwhile, the Spanish Supreme Court, in a landmark ruling, has declared meetings between political parties and Batasuna, the political wing of ETA, legal. All contact between Batasuna and other political parties was previously held to be illegal, hampering attempts to find a peaceful accord with ETA.

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