Moderate Basque parties in Spain called Sunday for ETA to lay down its arms, amid speculation the armed separatist movement is planning to announce a cease-fire this month.
"ETA must take a definitive decision so the Basques can decide and have a future of peace and freedom. ETA has no place in a free nation," said Josu Jon Imaz, head of the Basque Nationalist Party, as Basques marked "homeland day."
"The Basque country asks it (ETA) to open a democratic and peaceful process in a strategic and definitive way that allows the passing of the politically-driven historic conflict," the party said in a joint statement with fellow moderates Eusko Alkartasuna.