Rodriguez Fernandez, a former fighter pilot and an expert in intelligence, new technology and international affairs, is joined by new navy, army and air force commanders in an armed forces shake-up.
The Basque government insists the vote is legal and argues it is a non-binding consultation to seek the views of Basque residents on armed Basque group ETA's armed conflict and the region's future political status.
The Basque government insists the referendum is legal and aims to seek Basque residents' views on ETA's armed conflict and the region's future
political status.
Ibarretxe denied reports published by El Pais that ETA had informed "indirectly" of their aim not to commit attacks during the days previous to the vote of the Referendum Bill in the Basque parliament.
Basque PM Juan Jose Ibarretxe's party would win 34 percent of the votes and between 24 and 27 seats if the election were held now, compared to 32 percent (between 25 and 28 seats) for the Basque socialist party.
The bomb went off around 2:00 a.m. Friday next to a wall protecting a hilltop transmitter in the province of Alava. It weighed between three and five kilograms (7 and 11 pounds).
Jesus Guibert Azkue, a 81-year-old businessman, was arrested on Wednesday over presumed extortion payments to the armed Basque group ETA. His house has been registered by police.
