11.   He also served as a senator and as head of the Basque regional government.

12.   On Thursday, Basque regional government chief and Basque Nationalist Party member Antonio Ardanza appointed three new councilors to replace the Socialist representatives who resigned a day earlier.

13.   One person was slightly injured by flying glass, the Basque government said.

14.   The Basque government said one person was slightly injured by flying glass.

15.   The Basque government said it was still assessing the damage.

16.   The attack is the first since Basque regional government elections were called last month for May.

17.   The Basque regional government wants the central government to help facilitate a two-year loan of the black-and-white painting.

18.   The Basque government did not object to Herri Batasuna rallies planned for Saturday in San Sebastian and Vitoria.

19.   The Basque government is led by a moderate Basque nationalist party, which advocates further autonomy and eventual independence for the Basque region, but says it opposes ETA.

20.   The massive, modern structure due to open next spring has been financed by the Basque government and the Guggenheim Foundation in New York.