MADRID: Spain's government rejected an offer of talks from armed Basque separatists ETA and demanded the group dissolve itself without conditions, after ETA called for negotiations on prisoners and a weapons handover.

ETA stated that it wanted to enter talks with Spain and France to negotiate an end to military operations and a handover of its arms.

"The only statement we expect and demand is for its unconditional dissolution," Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz said.

A year ago ETA announced an end to a four-decade armed struggle for independence in which more than 800 people were killed, but did not fully halt operations or turn over its weapons. The group has broken ceasefires in the past.