ETA founder 'Txillardegi' dies at the age of 84

One of the founders of the armed Basque group ETA, Jose Luis Alvarez Enparantza, "Txillardegi", has died at age 84.

Alvarez participated in ETA's creation in 1958 and 20 years later helped form Herri Batasuna, the group's political wing.

He was born Sept. 27, 1927 in Donostia-San Sebastian and was also a linguist and writer. His work "Leturiaren Egunkari Ezkutua" is regarded as the first modern novel written in Basque.

Alvarez, who believed his native culture could best survive in an independent Basque nation, was elected senator for Batasuna in 1979 and also ran for the Senate in 2008 for Basque Nationalist Action. Basque newspaper Gara says Alvarez died Saturday.