By Jonathan Charles BBC correspondent in Madrid

The most used word in the Spanish papers on Tuesday must be "historic".

It was an historic day, according to the headlines; an historic decision according to the articles on the front and inside pages.

The word is being used about the one story which dominates the papers - the decision by a Spanish judge to suspend the activities of Batasuna - the Basque political party allegedly linked to the armed separatist group ETA.

The decision came just hours before the Spanish parliament decided to begin the lengthy process of banning Batasuna permanently.

The ban has angered Batasuna supporters

The headline in El Mundo says it all: in large letters it proclaims "Double Blow to Batasuna".

It describes how the judiciary and body politic moved as one to outlaw Batasuna.

Like all the papers it welcomes the banning of the party. This is also the first time for as long as anyone can remember that MPs have been called back from their summer holidays to attend an emergency session of parliament.

Another chance for the paper to use the word historic.

The right-of-centre newspaper ABC has a large front-page picture of Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar meeting King Juan Carlos, to tell him of the decision to move against Batasuna.

Crusading judge Baltasar Garzon is behind the suspension

ABC says that for 24 years the political party was in the service of terrorism, encouraging and funding ETA.

The left-wing newspaper El Pais says Batasuna won't go quietly. It reports that the party is calling on its supporters to gather at Batasuna offices in the hope that police will be deterred from seizing buildings.

Batasuna is apparently spreading the message to its followers using the internet, the paper says.

The Basque country isn't only in the political spotlight though - it's also being buffeted by nature.

ABC has pictures of the floods and storms battering the region. One picture shows a man stuck in his car with flood water all around him.

The tabloid El Periodico focuses on another Spanish problem - illegal immigration.

Hundreds of asylum seekers have apparently been queueing outside post offices, after hearing rumours that if they posted their residency applications to immigration officers, they'd automatically be granted residency.

And Barcelona daily Vanguardia has a survey showing that Spaniards go to the cinema much more than the British, French or Germans.

They like the family experience of it all - and no doubt they also want to take their minds off the tumultuous political events they're currently living through.