Court Undertakes Major Terrorism Trial

Fifty-six people went on trial on charges of raising money and engaging in other activities for the armed Basque separatist group ETA.

The trial involves the most defendants ever to go before the National Court, the Spanish tribunal that deals with terrorism cases. The case stems from an eight-year inquiry by Baltasar Garzon, Spain's leading anti-terrorism investigator. Garzon alleges the armed group consisted not only of its armed commandos but had support through political, financial and media organizations.

The trial, which is to include testimony from more than 300 people, is being held under tight security at a trade fair pavilion on the outskirts of Madrid. The site was used this year for Europe's first major trial of suspected Al Qaeda members. The proceedings are expected to last up to five months.