9 More Suspected Basque Rebels Held

Spanish police arrested nine suspected members of the Basque separatist group ETA, officials said, dealing the guerrillas a second blow in less than 24 hours. The latest arrests in Spain, one day after the ETA’s alleged military chief and five others were captured in France, climaxed the strongest action against the outlawed organization since it declared a unilateral cease-fire in September. Basque nationalists expressed concern that the crackdown could provoke the guerrillas to break the truce. The ETA’s 30-year fight for independence has claimed more than 800 lives.