One of Bosnia-Herzegovina's three heads of state, Dragan Covic, the ethnic Croat president, yesterday was sacked by Britain's Paddy Ashdown, the international community's high representative in charge of the country's postwar administration.

The decision to sack Mr Covic may help Bosnia steer clear of embarrassment, as the former president is due to appear in court today on corruption charges alongside the chief justice of Bosnia's constitutional court.