World IN BRIEF : BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA : Muslims, Croats Pick a Joint Government

Bosnia’s Muslims and Croats moved closer by selecting a joint government, but Bosnian Serbs remained doggedly outside efforts to establish peace after 26 months of war. The current head of Bosnia’s federal government, Prime Minister Haris Silajdzic, was chosen to also lead the federation government. The assembly also agreed on a Cabinet that includes 14 Muslims, 13 Croats and one Serb. But the federation government lacks one basic prerequisite: territory. Serbs control more than 70% of Bosnia and have shown no inclination to reduce that to the 49% envisioned in a proposal by international mediators.