Basque leader on trial in Spain

The trial is being held in the Basque city of Bilbao

The head of the Basque regional government in Spain has gone on trial over contacts with a banned party linked to the separatist group Eta.

Juan Jose Ibarretxe, on trial in the city of Bilbao, is accused of holding talks with the Batasuna party in 2006.

The talks took place during a failed attempt by Spain's Socialist government to negotiate peace with Eta.

Two Socialist Party members - Patxi Lopez and Rodolfo Ares - also went on trial over contacts with Batasuna.

Eta began its violent campaign for the independence of traditional Basque regions in northern Spain and south-west France under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco in the 1960s.