Thousands demand reduced sentences for Basque separatists

Several thousand people demonstrated yesterday in Paris in favour of reduced sentences for members of a Basque separatist group.The protest initiators are demanding the cancellation of special rules which stipulate stricter terms for Basque prisoners.Oneof their demands is that more than 60 Basque prisoners, who have beenconvicted of politically motivated terrorism and are currently spreadaround about 20 different prisons in France, be moved together.They are also demanding that sick prisoners be allowed out of detainment.Between 6,000 and 10,000 people took part in the demonstrations, according to French media.ETAseparatists took part a campaign to carve out an independent Basquestate from parts of northern Spain and southern France from 1968 to2010.During that time, the group carried out around 4,000 terrorist attacks that left more than 830 people dead.The group renounced violence in 2011.