BBC Sarajevo Correspondent Jacky Rowland: "Dodik favours compromise" (1'31")

Bosnia's Serb parliament has elected a new government led by a pro-Western moderate in a significant defeat for hardline nationalists.

The election of Milorad Dodik as prime minister marks a victory for President Biljana Plavsic in her power struggle with the former leader and war crimes suspect, Radovan Karadzic.

Mr Dodik had earlier been rejected by hardline nationalist Serbs in the parliament who support Mr Karadzic.

Plavsic: Successful in power struggle

Nationalists in the Serb Democratic Party and the Radical Party walked out of the session before the vote.

They left the chamber when the speaker adjourned the session. But Mr Dodik's supporters, including Muslim and Croat representatives, stayed behind and won the vote.

'Clean break'

In a speech to parliament, Mr Dodik called for a clean break from what he called the failed policies of ultra-nationalists loyal to Mr Karadzic.

He said Bosnia's Serb republic needed to start cooperating with the West and abide by the Bosnian peace agreement.

Setback for Karadzic

He also said the government should pursue rapid privatisation, lay the ground for a free press and fight official corruption.

"We don't have anything to fear from the international community. We only need to fear our ignorance and our incompetence," said Mr Dodik.

Mr Dodik was the second candidate to be nominated by Mrs Plavsic, after her previous choice, Mladen Ivanic, failed to secure sufficient support.

International representatives in Bosnia-Hercegovina had warned they might impose a government on the Bosnian Serbs if they failed to form one themselves as required by the Dayton peace accords.
 

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