Can weak references refer to a variable (instead of a function)?

[Erik Leunissen <e dot leunissen at hccnet dot nl>]

Weak references are explained in section 6.30 of the GCC manual
(Declaring Attributes of Functions).
                         ^^^^^^^^^

The example in that section declares a function x() as a weak reference 
to some symbol y in another translation unit/object file.

No mention of variables, either as the alias or the symbol referred to.

All of this leads me to understand that weak references apply to 
functions only.

a. is that true for both the alias and the symbol to which it refers?
b. with respect to the symbol referred to, does it matter what its 
storage class is (global extent, static local extent or automatic local 
extent)?

Thanks for any insight,

Erik.