In the Basque country in northern Spain, Juan José Ibarretxe is expected to be sworn in later today as president of the first exclusively nationalist government of the region.

The political wing of the Basque armed separatist group ETA says it will support the election of Mr Ibarretxe, the Basque Nationalist Party candidate, to sustain peace efforts in the region.

Mr Ibarretxe will head a minority government, supported by ETA's political wing.