Armed Basque separatist group ETA is trying to start negotiations with the Spanish government, the group was quoted as saying today in an interview with a Basque newspaper.
"(ETA) is trying to start a process of negotiation and agreement with the Spanish government," the Web site of Basque language newspaper Berriaquoted the group as saying.
It gave no further details and said no peace process was yet under way.
The paper did not say whom it had interviewed.
ETA said it was willing to find a "political and democratic solution to the armed conflict" and was willing to start talking "tomorrow" to the Spanish and French governments.
The interview came a day after the campaign for the Basque country's April 17 regional elections was launched. Madrid's courts have barred a pro-independence party from running for election, saying it is linked to ETA.
Spain has said there can be no talks unless ETA, which has killed some 850 people in a four-decade campaign for an independent state carved out of Spain and France, gives up violence.
The government has also repeatedly denied that it is in talks with the armed group. There were rumours an ETA ceasefire was imminent earlier this year, but hopes were dashed by a series of small bombs.
The group, weakened by dozens of arrests in France and Spain in recent years, has not carried out a fatal attack for almost two years.