Spain’s war of words hots up over ETA release

Spain’s socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriquez Zapatero has accused the opposition of stirring up tension in the country with virulent attacks on the decision to release an ETA hunger striker from jail. At a party conference, Zapatero said the opposition Popular Party is using terrorism to further its narrow-minded interests, and is trying to poison national stability with its lies.

The opposition leader Mariano Rajoy accused the government of giving in to terrorism. “Now, ETA know there’s a weak government which gives in,” he said,“and they know that all they have to is put pressure on. It’s the least intelligent decision I’ve ever seen.”

The escalating war of words came after convicted ETA hitman Ignacio de Juana Chaos was allowed to serve his remaining sentence under house arrest, after a three month hunger strike. There’ve already been demonstrations in Spain against the government, and against any negotiations with the Basque separatists.

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