The United States has suspended parts of a training programme for the army of the Muslim-Croat federation in Bosnia-Hercegovina following its failure to adopt unified symbols.

Officials said the decision had been taken after the defence ministry had refused to ban the old national Muslim and Croat flags from military installations.

Correspondents say the adoption of common symbols in post-war Bosnia has been slow and difficult.

Earlier this year, the international mediator, Carlos Westendorp, imposed a flag, a single currency and unified licence plates across Bosnia after its parliament failed to reach agreement.