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Fugitive who fought extradition from Belfast is found in South AmericaA

BASQUE man who fled Spain and fought extradition from Belfast has been tracked down to a tropical hideout in Venezuela after more than six-years on the run.

Iñaki de Juana Chaos (59) has been running an off-licence in the Caribbean resort of Chichireviche with his wife Irati Aranzabal Zuloaga and their young child.

De Juana Chaos was found guilty of a series of attacks in the 1980s that resulted in the deaths of 25 people and sentenced for 3,000 years.

His release in 2008 caused an outrage but the Spanish authorities then put out an an international arrest warrant for De Juana Chaos on charges of "glorifying terrorism" due to a letter he wrote that was read out to his supporters celebrating his release.

De Juana Chaos headed to Ireland where he sought refuge in west Belfast.

After fighting extradition he disappeared from Belfast and it was assumed that Eta members had arranged a new life in South America.

Spanish citizens were angry that de Juana Chaos remained free and the Association of Victims' of Terrorism (AVT) called for him to be arrested.

"It is very upsetting for the victims to discover through the media that this person is living a normal life, running a catering business and walking around free in Venezuela," the group said in a statement.

"We again urge the government to initiate and fast track the necessary measures to see that the Interpol arrest warrant is acted upon."

A "permanent" ceasefire was agreed by Eta in 2010.

The campaign for an independent Basque homeland for parts of northern Spain and south-western France saw the loss of more than 800 lives.

* BATTLE: Inaki de Juana Chaos after a court appearance in Belfast