National elections began in Bosnia and Herzegovina on Sunday. Some 3.3 million citizens are invited to elect the three-headed head of state, the federal parliament and parliaments in the two largely independent parts of the country. The small Balkan country suffers from contrasts between its ethnic groups, some of whom support their respective nationalist parties. About half of the population are Bosnian Muslims, a third are Serb Orthodox, and about 15% are Croatian Catholics.
Under its current leadership, the Serbian part of the country is aiming for secession from Bosnia. Serbian nationalists have the support of Russia, Serbia and EU member Hungary. Croatian nationalists are also working to weaken the Bosnian state as a whole. They are supported by Croatia and some Western diplomats. Elections will also decide whether non-nationalist parties can gain ground. The polls open at 7 am and close at 7 pm. First results are not expected before midnight.
From 1992 to 1995, Bosnia was the scene of a bloody war initiated by Serbia. About 100,000 people were killed and about two million displaced.