Spain Accuses 6 Basque Separatists of FARC Ties

A Spanish judge has ordered the prosecution of six Basque separatists, including two former leaders of the armed Basque separatist group ETA, for allegedly collaborating with the Colombian rebel group FARC.

Judge Eloy Velasco, who has been investigating suspected ties between the two outlawed organizations, says Basque separatists trained both members of ETA and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

Suspected former top ETA chiefs Francisco Javier Lopez Pena and Mikel Carrera Sarobe are among the six accused. Both have been in jail in France since they were arrested – Lopez in 2008 and Carrera Saroba last year.

Velasco has already issued a series of arrest warrants for suspected ETA members living in Venezuela in connection with their alleged links to FARC. They include Arturo Cubillas, who was also indicted Monday.

Cubillas is a longtime resident of Venezuela and holds a post in President Hugo Chavez's government.

Spain has requested his extradition, but Venezuela has refused to hand him over.

Spain, the European Union and the United States all consider ETA a terrorist group.

It has killed more than 800 people in its four-decade campaign for Basque independence in northern Spain and southern France.

The separatist group declared a permanent ceasefire in January, but made no mention of disbanding or giving up its weapons. The group has declared other ceasefires that lasted for a few months at most.