The militant Basque separatist group ETA declared a permanent cease-fire on Monday in what it called a firm step toward ending its bloody decades-long independence fight, but the Spanish government quickly demanded it disband outright.

But the statement made no mention of ETA dissolving or giving up its weapons — key demands from successive Spanish governments, and the announcement follows what the group called a permanent cease-fire in 2006 that ended after only nine months.

Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said Spanish governments and mainstream Spanish political parties have maintained that all they want to hear from ETA is that it is disarming and giving up.

Europe's last big violent political militant group declared a cease-fire in September but gave no details about how long it would last. The statement issued Monday specified that the group now supports a "permanent and general cease-fire which will be verifiable by the international community."

It added: "This is ETA's firm commitment toward a process to achieve a lasting resolution and toward an end to the armed confrontation."

ETA said in Monday's statement it is open to dialogue and negotiation but it also reiterated standard ETA positions, such as its belief that the Basque people have the right to decide whether to remain part of Spain or break away.

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