Ashdown candidate for UN Bosnia job

Paddy Ashdown with Radovan Karadzic in Bosnia in 1992

Former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Paddy Ashdown could be heading for a new role as the United Nations peace envoy in Bosnia.

Sir Paddy has been selected as the European Union's candidate to replace Wolfgang Petritsch, who leaves the position as UN High Representative next May.

The former MP, who was succeeded as Lib Dem leader by Charles Kennedy, told the Independent newspaper: "I can confirm that I was asked if I would be prepared to be the EU's candidate for this job.

"I said I would be delighted to do it."

He continued, adding: "There are formalities to be completed, but if they are then it is a post that I shall look forward to filling when Mr Petritsch leaves next year."

Sir Paddy has a long standing interest in the Balkans and had been wrongly tipped to become UN administrator in Kosovo when Bernard Kouchner stepped down.

A decision on the post - which is held for two years - is expected by September, but Sir Paddy is expected to get the support of the US, Japan and Canada for his application.

The Office of the High Representative (OHR) is the chief civilian peace implementation agency in Bosnia and Herzegovina, set up by the Dayton peace accord of 1995.