Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The chain linked the cities of San Sebastian and Bilbao with Vitoria

Tens of thousands of people in the autonomous Basque country of northern Spain have formed a human chain to push for greater autonomy.

The organisers say it reached 202km (125 miles) and linked the cities of San Sebastian and Bilbao with Vitoria, the seat of the Basque parliament.

The region has a higher degree of self-government than Catalonia - which has been seeking independence from Madrid.

Support for outright Basque independence has fallen over the years.

Many, though, believe the population should be given the right to vote over their future ties to Madrid.

Image copyright EPA Image caption Participants are calling for greater self-determination

Last month, the separatist group Eta, which had been fighting for Basque independence, formally announced it was disbanding, almost exactly 50 years after claiming its first victim.

Deemed a terrorist organisation by the European Union, it killed more than 800 people between 1968 and 2010, the year before it announced a permanent ceasefire.

Sunday's participants to the human chain - organised by Basque group Gure Esku Dago (In Our Own Hands) - were asked to write their aspirations on neckerchiefs, which they used as links in the chain.

Several also wore symbols of support for Calatan separatists.

Last year, a banned referendum on Catalonia's separation from Spain and consequent unilateral declaration of independence by the regional government prompted Madrid to impose direct rule over the region.

The courts have since detained politicians involved in the independence drive based on the constitutional clause that Spain is indivisible as a country.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption The chain stretched past the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao

The Basque region has more autonomy than any of Spain's other 16 regions, with its own police force, education system, language and a special financial relationship with Madrid.

In contrast with Catalonia, where support for secession is close to 50%, support for independence within the Basque country is currently around 15-17% according to polls.</s>MADRID (AP) - Tens of thousands of Spaniards from the northern Basque Country have formed a line that stretched over 200 kilometers (124 miles) to demand a ballot on secession for the wealthy region.

Protesters held hands or extended scarves between themselves to form the human chain, which connected the cities of San Sebastian, Bilbao and regional seat Vitoria.

The scarves bore the slogan "It's in our hands" written in Basque

A man holds up a Basque flag or Ikurrina as people gather along La Concha beach, while thousands of independence demonstrators make a human chain calling for the independence of the Basque Country with the slogan ''Our Right to Decide'' or in Basque language, '' Gure Esku Dago'', in the Basque city of San Sebastian, northern Spain, Sunday, June 10, 2018. Thousands of demonstrators marched in a large human chain in the Basque cities of Vitoria, Bilbao and San Sebastian for half an hour Sunday afternoon. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

Organizers say 175,000 people participated, including Basque and Catalan pro-secession politicians and activists. Basque police did not give an official count.

The demonstration took place just over a month since Basque militant group ETA announced its dissolution.

Spain has refused to allow an official referendum on secession by the Catalonia region, whose leaders tried and failed to declare independence last year.

People gather along La Concha beach, as thousands independence of demonstrators make a human chain calling for the independence of the Basque Country with the slogan ''Our Right to Decide'' or in Basque language, '' Gure Esku Dago'', in the Basque city of San Sebastian, northern Spain, Sunday, June 10, 2018. Thousands of demonstrators marched in a large human chain in the Basque cities of Vitoria, Bilbao and San Sebastian for half an hour Sunday afternoon. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

A man wears on his neck a kerchief with the slogan, ''Our Right to Decide'', as thousands of independence demonstrators make a human chain calling for the independence of the Basque Country with the slogan ''Our Right to Decide'' or in Basque language, '' Gure Esku Dago'', in the Basque city of San Sebastian, northern Spain, Sunday, June 10, 2018. Thousands of demonstrators marched in a large human chain in the Basque cities of Vitoria, Bilbao and San Sebastian for half an hour Sunday afternoon. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

A woman holds kerchiefs calling for the right to decide as thousands of independence demonstrators make a human chain calling for the independence of the Basque Country with the slogan ''Our Right to Decide'' or in Basque language, '' Gure Esku Dago'', in the Basque city of San Sebastian, northern Spain, Sunday, June 10, 2018. Thousands of demonstrators marched in a large human chain in the Basque cities of Vitoria, Bilbao and San Sebastian for half an hour Sunday afternoon. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

People gather along La Concha beach, as thousands independence demonstrators make a human chain calling for the independence of the Basque Country with the slogan ''Our Right to Decide'' or in Basque language, '' Gure Esku Dago'', in the Basque city of San Sebastian, northern Spain, Sunday, June 10, 2018. Thousands of demonstrators marched in a large human chain in the Basque cities of Vitoria, Bilbao and San Sebastian for half an hour Sunday afternoon. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

A man wears a t-shirt decorated with the Catalonian flag and the Ikurrina or Basque flag, as thousands independence demonstrators make a human chain calling for the independence of the Basque Country with the slogan ''Our Right to Decide'' or in Basque language, '' Gure Esku Dago'', in the Basque city of San Sebastian, northern Spain, Sunday, June 10, 2018. Thousands of demonstrators marched in a large human chain in the Basque cities of Vitoria, Bilbao and San Sebastian for half an hour Sunday afternoon. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

A couple hold hands in front of La Concha beach, as thousands of independence demonstrators make a human chain calling for the independence of the Basque Country with the slogan ''Our Right to Decide'' or in Basque language, '' Gure Esku Dago'', in the Basque city of San Sebastian, northern Spain, Sunday, June 10, 2018. Thousands of demonstrators marched in a large human chain in the Basque cities of Vitoria, Bilbao and San Sebastian for half an hour Sunday afternoon. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

People hold a giant Basque flag or ''Ikurrina'' at La Concha beach, as thousands independence demonstrators make a human chain calling for the independence of the Basque Country with the slogan ''Our Right to Decide'' or in Basque language, '' Gure Esku Dago'', in the Basque city of San Sebastian, northern Spain, Sunday, June 10, 2018. Thousands of demonstrators marched in a large human chain in the Basque cities of Vitoria, Bilbao and San Sebastian for half an hour Sunday afternoon. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

A woman wears on her head a kerchief with the slogan ''Our Right to Decide'' while thousands of independence demonstrators make a human chain calling for the independence of the Basque Country with the slogan ''Our Right to Decide'' or in Basque language, '' Gure Esku Dago'', in the Basque city of San Sebastian, northern Spain, Sunday, June 10, 2018. Thousands of demonstrators marched in a large human chain in the Basque cities of Vitoria, Bilbao and San Sebastian for half an hour Sunday afternoon. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)</s>(AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos). People gather along La Concha beach, as thousands independence demonstrators make a human chain calling for the independence of the Basque Country with the slogan ''Our Right to Decide'' or in Basque language, '' Gure Esku...

(AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos). A woman holds kerchiefs calling for the right to decide as thousands of independence demonstrators make a human chain calling for the independence of the Basque Country with the slogan ''Our Right to Decide'' or in Basque ...

(AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos). A man wears on his neck a kerchief with the slogan, ''Our Right to Decide'', as thousands of independence demonstrators make a human chain calling for the independence of the Basque Country with the slogan ''Our Right to D...

(AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos). People gather along La Concha beach, as thousands independence of demonstrators make a human chain calling for the independence of the Basque Country with the slogan ''Our Right to Decide'' or in Basque language, '' Gure E...

(AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos). A man holds up a Basque flag or Ikurrina as people gather along La Concha beach, while thousands of independence demonstrators make a human chain calling for the independence of the Basque Country with the slogan ''Our Rig...

MADRID (AP) - Tens of thousands of Spaniards from the northern Basque Country have formed a line that stretched over 200 kilometers (124 miles) to demand a ballot on secession for the wealthy region.

Protesters held hands or extended scarves between themselves to form the human chain, which connected the cities of San Sebastian, Bilbao and regional seat Vitoria.

The scarves bore the slogan "It's in our hands" written in Basque

Organizers say 175,000 people participated, including Basque and Catalan pro-secession politicians and activists. Basque police did not give an official count.

The demonstration took place just over a month since Basque militant group ETA announced its dissolution.

Spain has refused to allow an official referendum on secession by the Catalonia region, whose leaders tried and failed to declare independence last year.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>A man wears on his neck a kerchief with the slogan, ''Our Right to Decide'', as thousands of independence demonstrators make a human chain calling for the independence of the Basque Country with the slogan ''Our Right to Decide'' or in Basque language, '' Gure Esku Dago'', in the Basque city of San Sebastian, northern Spain, Sunday, June 10, 2018. Thousands of demonstrators marched in a large human chain in the Basque cities of Vitoria, Bilbao and San Sebastian for half an hour Sunday afternoon. less</s>A man wears on his neck a kerchief with the slogan, ''Our Right to Decide'', as thousands of independence demonstrators make a human chain calling for the independence of the Basque Country with the slogan ... more

A man wears on his neck a kerchief with the slogan, ''Our Right to Decide'', as thousands of independence demonstrators make a human chain calling for the independence of the Basque Country with the slogan ''Our Right to Decide'' or in Basque language, '' Gure Esku Dago'', in the Basque city of San Sebastian, northern Spain, Sunday, June 10, 2018. Thousands of demonstrators marched in a large human chain in the Basque cities of Vitoria, Bilbao and San Sebastian for half an hour Sunday afternoon. less</s>Almost 200,000 people turned out on Sunday to form a human chain through Spain's northern Basque region in a demonstration calling for the right to vote on the region's level of self-determination from Madrid.

The organizers of the event, Gure Esku Dago ("It's in our hands"), said the chain wound 202 kilometers (125 miles) and linked the regional capitals San Sebastian, Bilbao and Vitoria.</s>People join hands to form a 202 km (125 miles) human chain calling for a right to vote on Basque independence Thomson Reuters MADRID (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people from Spain's Basque Country joined hands to form a human chain running some 202 kilometers (125 miles) on Sunday to call for the right to hold a regional independence vote.

Spain's Constitution, created in 1978 after the end of dictator Francisco Franco's regime, states that the country is indivisible and last-year's attempt by Catalonia to hold a secession referendum was met with a harsh legal crackdown.

Former Prime Minister with the conservative People's Party (PP) Mariano Rajoy, who has been roundly criticized for his handling of the Catalan crisis, was ousted by Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez in a no confidence vote June 1.

Sanchez, who now heads the government following the vote, has called for renewed talks with the Catalan leadership.

While most from the Basque Country, which already has a high level of self-determination and, like Catalonia, has its own language and culture, do not support independence, many believe the population should be given the right to vote.

The human-chain protest was organized by Basque group Gure Esku Dago (In Our Own Hands) and ran from Donostia (also known as San Sebastian) to the Basque parliament in Gasteiz (Vitoria).

The Spanish government, backed by the constitutional court, maintains that any ballot on regional independence is illegal.

An Oct. 1 ballot on Catalonia's separation from Spain and consequent unilateral declaration of independence by the regional government prompted Madrid to take control of the region and arrest the civil servants involved in the vote.</s>Around 175,000 people joined hands in a human chain stretching 202 kilometres (125 miles) Sunday across Spain’s Basque country to press demands for an independence vote in the northern region, organisers said.

Participants waved flags in Basque red, green and white as they took part in a chain stretching from the coastal resort of San Sebastian to the region’s capital Vitoria, seat of the regional parliament, via business hub Bilbao.

The Gure Esku Dago (It’s in our hands) group organised logistics for the event which saw around 1,000 buses bring people in for the rally.

“We have proved that we want to decide the political future of this country,” said Gure Esku Dago spokesman Angel Oiarbide as he addressed supporters in Vitoria on self-determination for the Basque region.

Several pro-independence political groups and unions backed the initiative and figures from the local ruling Basque National Party joined the event.

This demonstration “proves that we are facing active and lively people who want to make decisions in a democratic way,” said Basque regional parliament president, Bakartxo Tejeria.

Gure Esku Dago previously organised similar events in 2014 and 2015 as it pressed for a referendum for further political freedoms for a region which already enjoys substantial political and cultural autonomy under the Spanish constitution — as does Catalonia on the other side of the Pyrenees.

The event was also designed to show support for Catalonia several of whose pro-independence leaders were jailed or else fled abroad in the aftermath of last year’s referendum which Madrid said was unconstitutional.

Pro-independence forces in the Basque region are jockeying for greater influence now that armed Basque separatist group ETA, which killed more than 800 people in a five-decade campaign of violence, announced it was disbanding on May 3.</s>Tens of thousands of Spaniards from the northern Basque Country have formed a line that stretched over 200 kilometers (124 miles) to demand a ballot on secession for the wealthy region.

Protesters held hands or extended scarves between themselves to form the human chain, which connected the cities of San Sebastian, Bilbao and regional seat Vitoria.

The scarves bore the slogan "It's in our hands" written in Basque

Organizers say 175,000 people participated, including Basque and Catalan pro-secession politicians and activists. Basque police did not give an official count.

The demonstration took place just over a month since Basque militant group ETA announced its dissolution.

Spain has refused to allow an official referendum on secession by the Catalonia region, whose leaders tried and failed to declare independence last year.</s>Madrid: Tens of thousands of Spaniards from the northern Basque Country have formed a line that stretched over 200 kilometres to demand a ballot on secession for the wealthy region.

Protesters held hands or extended scarves between themselves to form the human chain, which connected the cities of San Sebastian, Bilbao and the regional seat Vitoria.

The scarves bore the slogan "It's in our hands" written in Basque

Organisers say 175,000 people participated, including Basque and Catalan pro-secession politicians and activists. Basque police did not give an official count.
Tens of thousands of Basque nationalists form a 202-kilometre (126 mi) human chain asking for greater autonomy.