11.   Basque nationalists made a strong showing in key regional elections Sunday, fighting off a stiff challenge by parties opposed to Basque independence, most exit polls suggested.

12.   Basque nationalists rioted for a second straight day Saturday, lobbing stones and Molotov cocktails at police who blocked their protest march to the European Union summit.

13.   But Basque nationalists who have shed no blood have achieved far more.

14.   But in recent weeks the peace process appears to have stalled, with government officials blaming moderate Basque nationalists for failing to halt street violence by more radical elements.

15.   Cotarelo said ETA is trying to deepen the conflict by pushing moderate Basque nationalists overtly into the pro-independence camp.

16.   Critics accuse the Popular Party of portraying all Basque nationalists as terrorists in its staunch refusal to consider any possibility of peaceful independence for the region.

17.   Each time ETA grabs headlines with an assassination, bombing or kidnapping, non-violent Basque nationalists wince.

18.   Hundreds of Basque nationalists from Spain and France held Basque flags and handed out leaflets at major traffic intersections throughout the resort town Friday.

19.   In reality, ETA is trying to deepen the conflict by pushing moderate Basque nationalists overtly into the pro-independence camp, Cotarelo said.

20.   Many Spaniards express frustration and puzzlement with Basque nationalists who claim to suffer repression from the central government in Madrid.