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Spanish Politician, Policeman Killed in Basque Violence
A Spanish politician and a police officer were killed on July 14 in separate attacks in Spain's Basque country blamed on militant Basque separatist group ETA, media reports said.
Conservative councilor Jose Javier Jugica Astibia, 59, was killed when a bomb ripped apart his vehicle in the town of Leiza in Spain's northern province of Nararra Early Saturday.
Hours later, policeman Mikel Uribe, 44, was gunned down in the town of Leaburu in the neighboring Guipuzcoa province. He was hit several times in the head and body and died in hospital in the provincial capital San Sebastian shortly afterwards.
Initial investigations into the attack indicated that a bomb had been placed under the councilor's vehicle which exploded when he tried to get into it.
ETA has led a 30-year campaign for an independent Basque homeland, comprising four northern Spanish provinces and three southern French ones. The campaign has claimed the lives of about 800 people.
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