Croatia abolishes parliament upper house

The lower house of the Croatian parliament has passed a series of constitutional changes, including the abolition of the upper house.

The moves were backed by members of the reformist governing coalition who argue the upper house is a luxury the country can't afford.

The opposition-controlled upper chamber only has limited powers, but it can delay government proposals.

The opposition has described the abolition as an act of political violence.

The parliament also approved a revision of the electoral law -- a move that could pave the way for curtailing the voting rights of Croats living abroad, including the sizable Crootian minority in Bosnia.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service