Spain's ruling socialists are taking a first concrete step towards establishing dialogue with the Basque separatist group ETA. The government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has announced that it is to seek parliamentary support to open the talks in a vote on Tuesday.

The proposal comes with one major condition: that ETA abandons its arms.

The Socialist Vice President Maria Theresa Fernandez de la Vega said it was an opportunity not to be squandered:"If the situation does come about, the government will all explore all the possible avenues to acheive peace."

But the opposition centre right is not happy with the motion, which is expected to win parliamentary backing, insisting that a police crackdown is the only way to deal with ETA.

Popular Party leader Mariano Rajoy said it was unprecedented for a parliament to offer dialogue to an armed organisation. He added: "It signifies a surrender and is irresponsible, it is a step backwards in terms of the work we did before." A recent poll showed that more than 60 percent of Spaniards favoured the negotiations if ETA abandons its arms.

The group, ranked as a terrorist organistion in the EU and United States, has killed hundreds of people in its campaign for a separate Basque state.

PHOTO CAPTION

Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero makes the opening speech during the annual state-of-the-union debate in Parliament in Madrid Wednesday May 11, 2005. (AP)