'ETA arms cache' found in France

BORDEAUX, France -- Six people have been arrested and an arsenal of weapons and explosives seized in an operation in France linked to the Basque separatist organisation ETA.

The haul, including machine guns, rocket launchers, pistols, ammunition and explosives, was found in a disused lighter factory near the town of Dax in the southwestern Landes region on Tuesday.

CNN's Diana Muriel said: "This seizure represents one of the largest of its kind in the south western part of France.

"Over the last few months there have been several raids by French police."

The latest raid was the result of several months of investigation following the arrest last September of Asier Oyarzabal Chapartegui.

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Chapartegui, 40, is believed to be the head of logistics of ETA.

Four of the six people arrested are believed to belong to the same family, police sources said.

Three lived next to the abandoned factory while a fourth lived in a neighbouring village.

Earlier this month, ETA claimed 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.

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

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

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