Ethnic groups in Bosnia and Herzegovina

A spokesperson for Angela Merkel said on Wednesday that the German Chancellor was not familiar with the nationalist song that was performed at the Croatian Democratic Union rally that she attended on Saturday, and was not informed about the content of the event's musical programme in advance.

Fahrudin Radoncic  Photo: EPA/FEHIM DEMIR

"We did not talk about any names, as that decision will be discussed in the following weeks," Adisa Omerbegovic Arapovic, the vice president of SBB, said in Sarajevo on Thursday, answering questions about whether Radoncic was promised the Bosnian Ministry of Security.

Bosnian Serb strongman Milorad Dodik said his party would lend symbolic backing to the far-right Austrian Freedom Party in the European Parliament elections in May - although Bosnia and Herzegovina is not a member of the EU and its citizens are not voting in the May 23-26 polls.

Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency Chairman Milorad Dodik also participated in the conversation with Madic, an opposition politician from Montenegro.

A three-sided war pitching Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats against each other from 1992 to 1995 forced hundreds of thousands of people in Bosnia to leave their homes.

Elmedin Skrebo, vice-director of IFS EMMAUS in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has helped organise several aid convoys from Bosnia to the refugee camps in Turkey.

Banja Luka-based ATV broadcaster is reporting that Dodik last night commented on Bosniak (Muslim) member of the BiH Presidency Sefik Dzaferovic, saying that he was not visiting the Vatican on behalf of the Presidency, "as he wants to present it publicly."

The post-electoral political deadlock in Bosnia in Herzegovina has stalled progress towards NATO membership, as political leaders fail to adopt the country's first Annual National Program, which the Western alliance requires as a condition for activating the Membership Action Plan, MAP.

The defendants with their lawyers in court. Photo: Bosnian state court.

Camil Ramic, Mehmedalija Topalovic, Himzo Selimovic, Ramiz Micivoda and Mustafa Stovrag went on trial at the Bosnian state court on Monday, accused of committing crimes against prisoners of war who were beaten in custody.

The war-damaged Bosnian city of Mostar showed its solidarity with Paris on Tuesday, when its famous Old Bridge was illuminated in blue, white and red - the colours of the French flag - on an initiative of a local NGO called the Centre for Peace and Multiethnic Cooperation.

The light show followed the massive fire that severely damaged the famous Cathedral of Notre Dame on Monday.

BiH Presidency member Sefik Dzeferovic, chairman of the Council of Ministers Denis Zvizdic and SDA President Bakir Izetbegovic have all canceled their visit.