Spain signs terrorism pact after years of discord

Setting aside four years of discord, Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition have signed an agreement on anti-terrorism policy.

The pact follows unsuccessful efforts by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero to negotiate with armed separatists ETA.

He has now adopted a hard line towards the group.

Opposition leader Mariano Rajoy said: “I believe that the government’s position on terrorism is finally valid. My party will support it.”

The agreement comes after the arreston Tuesday of nine people said to be ETA’s most active cell.

They are accused of carrying out many recent attacks in Spain, including the bombing of a police barracks, in which one officer died.

The anti-terrorism pact will include provisions ordering Basque towns to remove street or place signs named after ETA guerillas.