Madrid - The militant separatist group ETA early Sunday warned the incoming Basque government to brace for attacks. In an ETA-communique published in the Basque newspaper Gara on Sunday, the group designated the incoming prime minister Patxi Lopez and his government as the "priority target."

Earlier this month, a new parliament was constituted in Spain's Basque that has the first conservative president taking power since the region was granted broad autonomy in 1979.

The choice of Arantz Quiroga as president breaks a long string of presidents from the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) since 1979 and signals an effort to pursue closer integration with Spain.

The PNV seeks looser ties, if not independence, from Spain.

The region, which has often suffered from the violence of ETA, is now to get its first government clearly backing its integration with Spain. The government was formed after two mainstream Spanish parties, the socialists and conservatives, reached a deal earlier this week.

The PNV took the most votes in the elections, but together, the socialists and conservatives have a majority. That will allow socialist leader Patxi Lopez to take over as regional prime minister in late April or May.

ETA charges that Lopez has "no democratic legitimacy" and vowed to continue its armed struggle as long as Basque rights are denied.

ETA called the coalition a "government of fascism and denial of civil liberties."

The PNV was also sharply criticized in the ETA communique for opening the gate to a revial of Spanish nationalism by allowing state repressions to occur. (dpa)