Spanish security forces on Wednesdayarrested five suspected members of the armed Basque separatist organization ETA, bringing the number of such arrests to 31 this year.
The five people were captured in the early hours of Wednesday in the Basque Country and Navarra on the border with France, where ETA's top leader Mikel "Antza" Albizu Iriarte was arrested last week.
At least 46 suspected ETA members have been arrested in France,including 20 arrested last Sunday.
The Basque Homeland and Freedom (ETA), which seeks an independent Basque state, is regarded as a terrorist organization by Spain, the United States and the European Union.
Spain made the first arrests this year on Feb. 29, when two ETA separatists were caught in a pick-up truck loaded with 536 kg of explosives which were to be used in a planned attack in Madrid.
