Bosnia-Hercegovina's moderate Serb parties have refused to support the prime minister designate of the Bosnian Serb Republic, Brano Miljus.

The three main parties of the moderate Sloga or Unity coalition said in a statement that the current Prime Minister, Milorad Dodik, remains their candidate.

Correspondents say the move makes it unlikely that Mr Miljus will win sufficient parliamentary backing to form a government.

He has already been expelled from his own party -- a member of the moderate coalition -- for accepting an invitation from the hardline Bosnian Serb President, Nikola Poplasen, to form a government.

The President gave the task to Mr Miljus after his first candidate, Dragan Kalilnic of the ultranationalist SDS party, failed to win sufficient support.