Silent protests were called across Spain today after Basque terrorists were blamed for the deaths of a six-year-old girl and a man in a car bomb attack in a Costa Blanca resort.
As Spaniards mourned the deaths, the government blamed ETA and pledged a tough stance against the group.
"This attack has been a brutality," said Interior Minister Angel Acebes. "We're going to continue working to defeat ETA."
About 40 people were injured, four seriously, when the bomb exploded near a packed bus stop and in front of a civil guard barracks in the Costa Blanca resort of Santa Pola.
The seaside town was packed with tourists, many of them British.
There was no immediate claim from ETA, though government officials said the group was responsible.
The girl, identified only as Silvia, is the youngest fatality since ETA ended a 14-month-old ceasefire in January 2000. The man, identified as Cecilio Gallego, died as he was waiting a the bus stop.
In Santa Pola, funeral plans were being made for the two victims and silent rallies were scheduled for midday throughout the country.
The killings shocked Spaniards and shattered the country's political atmosphere, normally quiet during August.
The ruling Popular Party called for the Basque political party Batasuna to be banned.
"If Batasuna does not condemn this killing, the Popular Party will fight from the Congress and the Senate to put this new law into force," said Ana Mato, a Popular Party politician.
AP