In line for top Bosnia job

Possible Mediation Role For Portillo

The Government is backing Mr Portillo, but will leave the decision up to the consensus of international governments.

"We would like to see a British representative. Mr Portillo has put his candidature forward, but whoever is appointed is up to the UN," a Downing Street spokesman said.

The former Cabinet minister, during his time as Defence Secretary, was a strong advocate of Nato's decision to send troops to police the peace agreement that ended the Bosnian war.

Mr Portillo could be be pipped at the post by former Spanish foreign minister Carlos Westendorp. But some EU governments would prefer to see Mr Westendorp appointed to the new post of EU Union foreign policy supremo.

The international mediator position is currently held by Sweden's Carl Bildt, who is soon to step down. No decision is expected before next weekend's meeting of the Bosnian Peace Implementation Council, made up of the signatories of the Dayton peace accord, which ended Bosnia's 43-month war.