MADRID, Nov 17 (Reuters) - A Spanish newspaper said on Monday diplomatic pressure from Madrid had forced a number of Basque separatist ETA guerrillas to seek refuge in Cuba.
The daily El Mundo quoted anti-terrorism sources as saying at least 10 ETA activists had moved to the communist-ruled island after Spain stepped up pressure on other Latin American governments to hand them over.
Spanish officials declined to comment on the report.
Cuba has had strained relations with Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's centre-right government since it came to power last year.
Cuban President Fidel Castro rejected the credentials of the new Spanish ambassador to Havana a year ago after Madrid turned up pressure for democratic reforms on the Caribbean island.
Tensions have eased since then, but Spain has not yet appointed a new ambassador.
Since taking office, Aznar's government has implored Latin American allies to cooperate in the battle against ETA, which stands for Basque Homeland and Freedom.
The radical separatist group has killed more than 800 people in a 29-year campaign for an independent homeland.
Spain's Association of Victims of Terrorism says about 100 ETA members identified by Spanish police are taking refuge in Latin America, mainly in Venezuela and Mexico.
Mexico expelled four ETA suspects last week, shortly after a visit to the country by Spanish Interior Minister Jaime Mayor Oreja, the country's chief anti-terrorism policymaker.
In August, the Dominican Republic expelled three ETA members to Spain. Two of the three activists had represented ETA in talks with the former Socialist government of Spain held in Algeria in 1989.
10:55 11-17-97