Bosnian Serbs choose a speaker but not a government

The Bosnian Serb assembly has made a small move towards ending the deadlock between hardline nationalists and relative moderates, which has stopped the formation of a Bosnian Serb government.

At a session on Monday in the town of Bijeljina the assembly elected as its speaker, Dragan Kalinic, an ally of the hardline former President Radovan Karadzic.

However, the deputies adjourned until Saturday without approving Mladen Ivanic the man nominated to be Prime Minister by the new Bosnian Serb President, Biljana Plavsic.

Correspondents say the fact that Mrs Plavsic's nominee will be allowed to address the next session suggests a compromise may be in the offing.

International officials have warned they might impose a government if the Assembly continues to stall over a decision.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service