The interior ministers of the two entities comprising Bosnia-Hercegovina -- the Muslim-Croat federation and the Bosnian Serb republic -- have signed an agreement to fight crime together.

The accord, the first of its kind since the end of the war in 1995, envisages an exchange of information between both ministries and commits the two sides to ensuring freedom of movement and civil rights across Bosnia.

Correspondents say the agreement is intended as a step towards integrating Bosnia's halves into a unified country.In a separate development, Bosnia and Croatia again failed to resolve their dispute over Bosnia's use of the Croatian port of Ploce, delaying the signing of a wide-ranging agreement on closer ties.