European officials yesterday urged leaders in Bosnia-Herzegovina to stave off a political crisis as a new rift between rival ethnic forces sharing power in the country's state administration appeared to deepen.

"I am convinced that everybody will do their best to resolve the current situation and achieve the political stability that is so necessary for Bosnia-Herzegovina to continue its reform process leading towards the European Union," said Olli Rehn, the European commissioner for enlargement, during a visit to Sarajevo.