ETA Senior Terrorists Arrested in France, Spain Says

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http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000085&sid=aAZttlOkghE0&refer=europe

April 3 (Bloomberg) -- Three of the main members of the ETA Basque terrorist group were arrested yesterday in a joint operation between Spanish and French police, Spain's Interior Minister Angel Acebes said.

Felix Alberto Lopez de la Calle, 43, known as ``Mobutu'' and responsible for part of ETA's operations, and Felix Ignacio Esparza Luri, 41, in charge of ETA's logistics, were detained yesterday, Acebes said. Mercedes Chivite Berango, one of the coordinators of the terror group, also was arrested, he said.

The operation also found four bombs, documentation, several car with false number and guns, the minister said. ETA stands for Euskadi ta Askatasuna, or Basque Homeland and Freedom. The group has killed more than 800 people in a 35-year campaign for independence for the Basque area along the western border of France and Spain.

``The fact that the bombs were ready to be used proved the intentions of the terrorist group ETA,'' Acebes said, speaking at a news conference in Madrid. ``This is a great success in the fight against ETA.''