Plavsic: Fighting for her political future

Bosnian Serb Government Splits From Plavsic

The government - based in the Serb stronghold of Pale - has said all future acts by Mrs. Plavsic will be considered illegal. The decision is seen as another indication that the Bosnian Serb republic is splitting into two factions.

Her opponents who support Radovan Karadzic are accusing her of violating the constitution by dissolving their parliament last month.

Now they are digging their heels in and according to the agencies, promising to ignore her until, they say, she starts obeying the law. That effectively means two types of governments will now probably operate in the Serb part of Bosnia.

One will be in Pale, the other will be in the north west of the country around Banja Luka, where Mrs Plavsic resides.

The Bosnian Serb constitutional court recently said Mrs Plavsic had made an illegal move by dissolving the assembly in July. But the ruling has been ignored by both the President and the international community, they are backing Biljana Plavsic and have accused the courts of being biased towards her opponents.

Journalists in Banja Luka have refused to transmit what they call primitive propaganda produced at the Pale centre.

A newly appointed chief for the Banja Luka studio, a supporter of Mr Karadzic, is reported to have been prevented from entering the building by security guards loyal to Mrs Plavsic.

The Bosnian Serb state media run by Mrs Plavsic' opponents is increasingly using extremely unbalanced reports which could incite violence.

The appointment on Friday by Mrs Plavsic of a new Interior Minister, Marko Pavic, to replace the hardliner, Dragan Kijac, has been denounced by her opponents as unconstitutional.

Her first attempt two months ago to remove Mr Kijac opened up the split between president and parliament in the Bosnian Serb republic. Mrs Plavsic has given the new minister control of all policing matters.

But the police force is likely to split in two, deepening divisions between President Plavsic and supporters of Mr Karadzic.

International officials in Bosnia have called on Mrs Plavsic and her opponents to resolve their dispute by democratic means . The international community has criticised the way both sides have used their own police forces during the political crisis.