National elections began in Bosnia-Herzegovina on Sunday. Around 3.3 million citizens are asked to elect the three-headed head of state, the federal parliament and the parliaments in the two largely independent parts of the country. The small Balkan country suffers from the contrasts between its ethnic groups, some of which support their respective nationalist parties. About half of the population are Muslim Bosnians, a third are Orthodox Serbs and around 15 percent are Catholic Croats.

Under its current leadership, the Serbian part of the country is aiming for secession from Bosnia. The Serbian nationalists enjoy the support of Russia, Serbia and EU member Hungary. The Croatian nationalists are also working to weaken the Bosnian state as a whole. They are supported by Croatia and some western diplomats. The elections will also decide whether non-nationalist parties can gain ground. Polling stations open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. The first results are not expected before midnight.

From 1992 to 1995, Bosnia was the scene of a bloody war started by Serbia. Around 100,000 people were killed and around two million displaced.

Electoral Commission website