Spain seeks extradition of Basque separatist suspect from Venezuela

Spain has asked Venezuela to extradite a Basque suspected of belonging to the violent separatist group ETA, the deputy prime minister said yesterday .

Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, who is also interior minister, said the cabinet had received an extradition request for Arturo Cubillas from national court judge Eloy Velasco.

It had agreed to ask the Venezuelan government to comply with the judge's demand.

Cubillas was indicted by Spain in March on accusations that he, among other things, helped ETA arrange explosives training with Colombian FARC rebels inside Venezuela.

Authorities say that evidence of the training emerged when two suspected Basque separatists were arrested in Spain in September.

Spanish investigating judge Ismael Moreno said earlier this month that both men allegedly took part in a weapons training course in Venezuela.

Judge Moreno said Cubillas was an instructor during that course, which he said was conducted in July and August 2008.