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Global

Suspected ETA bomb explodes in Spain


    MADRID (Reuters) - A powerful bomb hidden inside a backpack exploded outside a courthouse in Spain's Basque region in the early hours of Friday and police suspected it was the first attack of 2008 by Basque separatist guerrillas ETA.

    The explosion in the town of Bergara, around 100 km (62miles) southwest of coastal resort San Sebastian, causedconsiderable damage to the courthouse and nearby shops andvehicles, but there were no injuries.

    "We suspect ETA was behind this," said a police spokesman.

    Emergency authorities received a warning call that a bombhad been planted and security guards were evacuated after thebackpack was discovered.

    It was not the first attack on the courthouse in Bergara, atown run by Basque political party ANV, which is in the processof being banned for alleged links to ETA.

    The attack followed the arrest on Monday of the two mostsenior leaders of banned Basque separatist party Batasuna.

    Spain's Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis RodriguezZapatero, fighting to retain office in a March generalelection, faces criticism over failed ETA peace talks and haslaunched a crackdown on the Basque separatist rebels and theirallies.

    ETA has killed more than 800 people during its four decadecampaign for an independent Basque state.

    The most recent deaths were in December, when ETAguerrillas shot dead two undercover Spanish policemen insouthern France.

    (Reporting by Inmaculada Sanz, Andrew Hay; Editing byCatherine Evans)