Sarajevo, 16 September 1997 (RFE/RL) - The Organisation for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) mission chief in Bosnia has decided not to disqualify the main Bosnian-Serb Party for using pictures of war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic in their election posters.
Robert Frowick said today he ruled against disqualifying the hardline Serbian Democratic Party (SDS) because to do so would have undermined the OSCE's ability to implement the results of the weekend local elections. A recommendation to sanction the SDS was originally made by the Election Appeals Sub-Commission, an independent judicial body set up by the OSCE.
Parties competing in the elections were forbidden to use pictures of war crimes suspects in campaign materials, yet pictures of Karadzic - Bosnia's wartime president and now accused of still wielding much behind-the-scenes power - were prominently displayed.
Meanwhile, work continues in counting the ballots in the elections, which were monitored by the OSCE. Initial results are expected Saturday.
Robert Frowick said today he ruled against disqualifying the hardline Serbian Democratic Party (SDS) because to do so would have undermined the OSCE's ability to implement the results of the weekend local elections. A recommendation to sanction the SDS was originally made by the Election Appeals Sub-Commission, an independent judicial body set up by the OSCE.
Parties competing in the elections were forbidden to use pictures of war crimes suspects in campaign materials, yet pictures of Karadzic - Bosnia's wartime president and now accused of still wielding much behind-the-scenes power - were prominently displayed.
Meanwhile, work continues in counting the ballots in the elections, which were monitored by the OSCE. Initial results are expected Saturday.