MADRID, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on Wednesday blamed the separatist group of ETA for shooting dead a French policeman in France a day earlier.
The 52-year-old French policeman was killed in a shootout near Paris with Basque-speaking gunmen who were suspected ETA members.
"I condemn this criminal action carried out by the criminals of the terrorist group ETA and express my solidarity with France," Zapatero told the media.
"This time France has paid a high price for its cooperation with us in the fight against ETA which is so important for our freedom and security," he said.
France and Spain signed an agreement in January 2008 allowing Spanish agents to operate in southwestern France as part of their joint fight against ETA.
ETA, a Spain-based nationalist and separatist organization, is considered a terrorist group by Spain, France, the European Union and the United States.
