Madrid - A Spanish mayor in the Basque region has been arrested on suspicion of supporting the militant Basque separatist group ETA, authorities said Wednesday.

Inocencia Galparsoro, mayor of the small city of Mondragon near San Sebastian, was taken into custody on Wednesday under orders from judge Baltasar Garzon, citing evidence she had supported the group.

She is also accused of continued involvement in the Basque Nationalist Action (ANV) party after it had been made illegal.

In Mondragon, a local socialist politician was gunned down by ETA just two days before parliamentary elections. Galparsoro has persistently refused to condemn the assassination. (dpa)