Ashdown Says Bosnian Officials Wasted Millions

10 June 2004 -- The international community's high representative in Bosnia, Paddy Ashdown, has said the government of Bosnia-Herzegovina spent millions of dollars over its budget last year.

Ashdown said poor international controls led to what he desribed as "theft from the public purse" and "theft from the most needy in this country."

Ashdown did not accuse any specific officials today, but said that in other countries such a high level of waste would result in high-level resignations. He called on the parliament, state prosecutor, and public to find those responsible and reprimand them.

(dpa)