Bosnia rocked by spreading anti-government unrest

TUZLA/SARAJEVO, Bosnia, (Reuters) – Protesters across Bosnia set fire to government buildings and fought with riot police yesterday as long-simmering anger over lack of jobs and political inertia fuelled a third day of the worst civil unrest in Bosnia since a 1992-95 war.

Protests remained largely contained to the Croat-Muslim Bosniak half of Bosnia but were gaining in intensity.

By 7 p.m. (1800 GMT), protesters had dispersed in three flashpoint towns, including the capital Sarajevo, but police remained out in force. All shops were closed and streets were littered with glass and debris.

Hours earlier, police in Sarajevo fired rubber bullets at several thousand protesters who set fire to the headquarters of the cantonal government and to a section of the country’s presidency building. The cantonal building was still smouldering in the evening.

“This is so sad,” said a woman, who would give only her first name, Vildana, watching the government building still in flames. “It took four years of war to destroy it and vandals now burned it in one day. This is just as in 1992.”

The protesters also tried to force their way into the presidency, but were repelled by special police firing water cannon. Around 145 people were injured in Sarajevo, including 93 policemen.

Several thousand protesters in the southern town of Mostar stormed two local government buildings and also set fire to the local city hall. Police did not intervene.