Basque separatist prisoners admit to damage during decades of violence

Jailed members of Basque separatist group ETA said they would recognise Spain's criminal justice system and acknowledged the pain caused by four decades of violence, in a highly symbolic move that could strengthen the peace process.

ETA convicts have argued that they are political prisoners and have long rejected the terms of their imprisonment.

Their shift could allow some prisoners to win early release or negotiate other demands and it opens the door to further possible concessions by the weakened group, which announced a ceasefire in 2011.

"We recognise, in all sincerity, the suffering and damage caused to all parties," representatives of Basque prisoner collective EPPK, which includes ETA convicts, said in a statement sent to regional newspaper Gara.

"We take entire responsibility for the consequences of our political activities," they said in the statement, written in Basque and translated into Spanish by Gara.

About 600 ETA members are in prison in Spain.