ETA admits to recent bombings

MADRID, Spain -- The Basque separatist group ETA is claiming responsibility for several bombings this year, including a series of attacks during a recent European Union summit.

In a message published in two Basque-language newspapers, ETA said it was responsible for attacks in Fuengirola, Marbella and Mijas on the south coast and in the central and northern cities of Zaragoza and Santander.

Up to seven people were injured in the attacks, which took place over a 48-hour period that coincided with a June 21-22 European Union meeting in the southern city of Seville.

Fuengirola, where a British tourist was seriously injured by shrapnel, is 100 miles from Seville.

ETA said its aim was to damage "Spain's tourist and economic interests."

IN-DEPTH Basque conflict: Violence in Spain

ETA said it also was behind two powerful car bombs in Madrid, including one next to the Real Madrid soccer stadium just hours before a major match and one in front of the headquarters of Spain's biggest oil company, Repsol YPF.

ETA has killed some 800 people in its 34-year campaign of bombings and shootings to back its demands for an independent Basque state carved out of northern Spain and southern France.

The Spanish government recently approved a controversial law which it hopes will allow the courts to ban the Basque separatist party Batasuna, which is openly sympathetic to ETA.

The law has angered Batasuna as well as the more moderate Basque Nationalist Party, which governs the northern region.

This week a High Court judge ordered Batasuna to pay $23.5 million in damages for street violence carried out by its youth arm, Segi.

Batasuna, which has the support of around 10 percent of Basque voters, said Thursday it could not and should not pay the fine and that it amounted to a de facto ban.

The judge is now collecting evidence to allow him to embargo the party's assets.