Spanish politician shot dead in suspected ETA attack

A regional leader of Spain's ruling Popular Party has been shot dead in an attack bearing the hallmarks of the Basque separatist group ETA. Local media say that 53-year-old Manuel Gimenez Abad, the president of the party in the northern region of Aragon, was shot while on his way to a football match in the city of Zaragoza. It has been reported that the victim was shot twice in the head with a nine millimetre calibre pistol. Paramedics tried unsuccessfully to revive him. Although no one has claimed responsibility for the killing police blame ETA, which is now suspected of carrying out 30 murders since it broke its ceasefire in December, 1999.