The Sinn Fein president, Mr Gerry Adams, has urged the Spanish government not to obstruct the peace process in the Basque region following a ceasefire declared by the separatist group ETA.
"The government has a responsibility not to delay and not to create obstacles," Mr Adams said during a visit to the Basque country.
"There should be no preconditions, there should be no delays, no attempts to exclude people," he told reporters. "There should be collectivism, inclusiveness . . . no predetermined outcomes and people working for the common good."
Mr Adams, whose party has advised ETA's political wing Herri Batasuna on how to open a peace dialogue modelled on that of Northern Ireland, said Basques had launched a "genuine initiative" aimed at ending the 30-year separatist conflict and all political parties should seize the opportunity presented by the ceasefire.
