French police arrested a suspected member of Basque armed separatist group ETA on Wednesday after a car chase near the southern French city of Millau.

Police chased the man because he was driving a stolen car. He crashed the car and was arrested as he tried to steal another one in Compeyre, a village in the Aveyron area.

"He presented himself as a member of ETA, the information is now being verified," police said.

ETA, which was formed under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, marked its 50th anniversary in January and vowed to continue to fight for an independent Basque Country carved out of northern Spain and southwestern France.

Spanish authorities say the group has been reduced to a relatively small number of fighters since several leaders were arrested, but it has continued to carry out bombings.