ETA claims killings and warns of new assassination targets

Madrid - The Basque separatist group ETA admitted responsibility yesterday for the murders of a former minister and city official…

Madrid - The Basque separatist group ETA admitted responsibility yesterday for the murders of a former minister and city official and warned it would actively target anyone who signs on to a new government anti-terrorism pact.

In a statement carried in the Basque daily Gara, ETA said its members shot and killed former health minister Mr Ernest Lluch on November 21st and assassinated a city councillor from the ruling Popular Party, Mr Francisco Cano, on December 14th.

And in a threatening new development, ETA said it would now specifically target the signatories of an antiterrorism pact agreed last month between the conservative Popular Party of Prime Minister Mr Jose Maria Aznar and the main opposition Socialist Workers' Party.