Bosnian Political Legend Withdraws From Sarajevo Mayoral Race

One of Bosnia's most respected politicians, Bogic Bogicevic - a legend among many in Bosnia for his courage before and during the war of the 1990s - has pulled out the race to become mayor of Sarajevo, prompting dismay among his many admisers.

In a letter on Wednesday to Nermin Niksic, leader of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, to which he belongs, Bogicevic said his candidacy had "obviously become a stumbling block in the coalition relations of the Four, which showed evident disunity at a session of the Sarajevo City Council".

He said he did not want inter-party relations disturbed because of him, nor did he want his name used in inappropriate political and election games, which he stated was what the Wednesday session of the Sarajevo City Council looked like.

After the secret ballot held at the Sarajevo City Council on Wednesday, no candidate won enough votes to stand as mayor, although the opposition Four - comprising the Our Party, NS, People and Justice, NiP, the SDP and independent assembly members - has a majority on the council.

Bogicevic wrote that he saw this disunity as "a kind of message that I am not a desirable candidate for the mentioned responsible position within the Four".

His withdrawal from the race, perceived as a victory for nationalist political forces in the city, has disappointed many.

"This is a great political and moral disgrace for the entire city," Dino Mustafic, a well-known Bosnian director, wrote on Twitter.

"Bogic Bogicevic is simply too good for this city for these people," Irfan Cengic, an MP in the assembly of Bosnia's Federation entity wrote on Facebook, adding that he was resigning from all positions in the SDP.

The leaders of three of the four parties in Four issued a...