Top ETA chiefs captured in France

[Ian Smith son]

David Pla and Iratxe Sorzabal have been arrested in Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry in an operation led by the Guardia Civil

What remains of the Basque separatist organisation ETA has been dealt a fatal blow with the arrest of its two main leaders, David Pla and Iratxe Sorzabal.

The arrests took place on Tuesday in the French town of Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry, very close to the Spanish border. The operation was undertaken by the Spanish Guardia Civil in collaboration with their French counterparts across the border.

The pair, believed by the Interior Ministry to be the group's top leaders, are also the presumed authors of the declaration made on 20 October 2011 which announced an end to the organisation's armed campaign.

They had been taking refuge in a rural house in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques 'département'.

Top ETA chiefs captured in France. Surinenglish.com

David Pla and Iratxe Sorzabal