PARIS, March 7, 2008 (AFP) - French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on Friday condemned the killing of a former town councillor from Spain's ruling Socialist party in an attack blamed on the Basque separatist group ETA.

'I condemn in the strongest terms the cowardly assassination of Isaias Carrasco by ETA,' Kouchner said in a statement, pledging France's support for Spain in the 'battle against terrorism'.

'We guarantee our solidarity and our closest collaboration,' he added.

He also expressed condolences to the victim's family.

Carrasco, a former town councillor, was shot in the Basque town of Mondragon and died shortly afterwards, officials said.

Spain, which is gearing up for general elections on Sunday, ended campaigning early on Friday following the killing.

ETA has killed more than 800 people in Spain in its nearly 40-year campaign for an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and parts of southwestern France.

It is classified as a terrorist organisation by the European Union and the United States.