Spain heralds new party ban

Batasuna has attracted votes despite mass demonstrations against ETA

MADRID, Spain (CNN) -- A new law that goes into effect on Saturday attempts to outlaw a political party widely accused of being the political wing of the armed Basque separatist group ETA.

It is the latest effort by Spanish authorities in their battle against terrorists.

Batasuna is not mentioned by name, but the law is seen as an attempt to curb the influence of the leftist party.

The conservative government was given broad support for the law, which permits the Supreme Court to outlaw parties that support terrorism.

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Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar said: "I'm sorry we didn't do this earlier but we are very happy to do this now, so we can defeat terrorism with all of its consequences."

Batasuna, which has seven seats in the Basque regional parliament after collecting 140,000 votes in the last elections, said it will fight the law.

A Batasuna spokesman said: "You can do what you want but we will defy the new law, because the Basque nation demands something else."

Batasuna favours independence but insists it is not the political wing of ETA, which has been blamed for some 800 killings in its long fight for Basque independence.

Police say 400 Batasuna members have joined ETA and that they have financial links and provide logistical support.

Party members are regularly seen confronting police and other Basques over the issue of independence.

Some say proceedings against Batasuna could start after the next ETA bombing if Batasuna follows its usual pattern and refuses to condemn the violence.

Spanish officials have struggled for 34 years to end ETA's campaign for independence.

Some in Spain say the new law will not work. But at this stage, most Spaniards are willing to try anything under the law to stop the violence.

ETA is already an outlawed group, but the bombings continue, including several last weekend during a European Union summit in Seville. (Full Story)