Prague, 19 October 2003 (RFE/RL) -- Alija Izetbegovic, Bosnia-Herzegovina's wartime president, has died aged 78. Izetbegovic died in a Sarajevo hospital from complications sustained from falling down in his home last month. He was later admitted to the hospital's cardiac unit.
Izetbegovic, who retired from active politics in 2000, said his greatest success as president was that he had prevented Bosnia from becoming "part of a Greater Serbia." His greatest failure, he said, was that he had not fulfilled the dream of establishing a united, democratic, and prosperous Bosnia.
At the end of 1995, in the U.S. city of Dayton, Ohio, Izetbegovic, together with Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, signed an accord that brought hostilities to an end.
During the later years of his presidency, Izetbegovic was dogged by allegations of corruption and embezzlement. In June 2000, he announced he would retire from politics due to poor health.
Izetbegovic, who retired from active politics in 2000, said his greatest success as president was that he had prevented Bosnia from becoming "part of a Greater Serbia." His greatest failure, he said, was that he had not fulfilled the dream of establishing a united, democratic, and prosperous Bosnia.
At the end of 1995, in the U.S. city of Dayton, Ohio, Izetbegovic, together with Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic and Croatian President Franjo Tudjman, signed an accord that brought hostilities to an end.
During the later years of his presidency, Izetbegovic was dogged by allegations of corruption and embezzlement. In June 2000, he announced he would retire from politics due to poor health.