Muslim leaders in Bosnia-Hercegovina have welcomed the election of Stipe Mesic as President of Croatia.

A spokesman for Alija Izetbegovic, the Muslim member of Bosnia's three-men presidency, said the election of Mr Mesic would be a guarantee of friendly relations between the two countries.

Mr Mesic has become popular among Bosnian Muslims for his visits to the capital, Sarajevo, and criticism of attempts by Bosnian Croat nationalists to annex parts of Bosnia to Croatia.

Earlier, Mr Mesic promised to work closely with the new government in Croatia to complete the political transformation that has been underway since the death of the previous head of state, Franjo Tudjman, in December.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service