Ceasefire announced by Eta

A terrorist group responsible for killing hundreds of people in its fight for independence has announced a ceasefire.

Reports indicate that the Basque separatist group Eta has made the declaration of peace after almost forty years of fighting, calling for the start of a "new democratic process in the Basque country".

The permanent ceasefire has not been officially verified but is thought to run from March 24th and has been reported on Basque radio stations and in Basque newspapers, known for relaying Eta statements.

It would mean an end to years of fighting and killing by the group, which wanted independence for the Basque region covering northern Spain and also south-west France.

The death toll from its terrorist activities is thought to be at least 800, mainly political figures, although the last major attack was in 2003 and the group was most prominent in the 1970s.