Westendorp unveils details of new Bosnian currency

The international representative in Bosnia-Hercegovina, Carlos Westendorp, has unveiled details of the country's new currency, the marka, which is being introduced in April.

He imposed the design of the currency on Tuesday to end the deadlock in Bosnia's multi-ethnic presidency over national symbols.

Mr Westendorp said the marka will be fully convertible and pegged to the Deutsche-mark.

The notes are legal tender across the country; all will carry pictures of Bosnian writers, but those issued in the Serb Republic honour different people from those in the Muslim-Croat Federation.

The notes also vary in the positioning of the two scripts they carry, Cyrillic and Roman.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service