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Bosnian Serb referendum on disputed 9 January holiday Bosnian Serb referendum on disputed 9 January holiday
(about 4 hours later)
Bosnian Serbs are voting on whether to keep 9 January as a national holiday in defiance of Bosnia's highest court.Bosnian Serbs are voting on whether to keep 9 January as a national holiday in defiance of Bosnia's highest court.
It has ruled the date discriminates against Muslim Bosniaks and Catholic Croats and should be changed.It has ruled the date discriminates against Muslim Bosniaks and Catholic Croats and should be changed.
Serbs declared the creation of their own state within Bosnia on 9 January 1992, fuelling an ethnic conflict in which about 100,000 people died.Serbs declared the creation of their own state within Bosnia on 9 January 1992, fuelling an ethnic conflict in which about 100,000 people died.
Bosnia is still split along ethnic lines between the mainly-Serb entity and a Muslim-Croat federation.Bosnia is still split along ethnic lines between the mainly-Serb entity and a Muslim-Croat federation.
The Constitutional Court, based in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo, banned the referendum.The Constitutional Court, based in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo, banned the referendum.
Referendum challenges peace termsReferendum challenges peace terms
Polls opened at 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT) and will close at 19:00.Polls opened at 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT) and will close at 19:00.
About 1.2 million people are eligible to vote. About 1.2 million people are eligible to vote. By 13:00 the turnout had reached about 30%.
As well as being the anniversary of the declaration of a Bosnian Serb state, 9 January is an Orthodox Christian holiday.As well as being the anniversary of the declaration of a Bosnian Serb state, 9 January is an Orthodox Christian holiday.
"The Republic is going into a referendum. It's a great day for our Republic and our people," Bosnian Serb President Milorad Dodik said on Friday. Voting in the Bosnian Serb capital Banja Luka, President Milorad Dodik was upbeat.
"We have to show our dignity, that we are a democratic people and that we have the right to make our own decisions." "I think all the pros and cons about this referendum are not important anymore," he said.
But Bosniak leader Bakir Izetbegovic has accused Mr Dodik of "playing with fire". "It's important that this referendum is taking place now. Nothing can question it right now. Nothing can make it look bad."
But the international High Representative, Valentin Inzko, told the BBC that the vote was "illegal and unconstitutional".
"No mistake, decisions of the constitutional court are final and binding..., and the constitutional court was very, very explicit..., it suspended this referendum," he said.
Bosniak leader Bakir Izetbegovic, meanwhile, has accused Mr Dodik of "playing with fire".
The BBC's Guy Delauney in neighbouring Serbia says that the Bosnian Serb leader has been deliberately provocative by insisting on celebrating the national holiday on 9 January.The BBC's Guy Delauney in neighbouring Serbia says that the Bosnian Serb leader has been deliberately provocative by insisting on celebrating the national holiday on 9 January.
Analysts say by flouting the court, one of the federal institutions set up at the end of the war 21 years ago, Mr Dodik is threatening the Dayton peace agreement, which ended the war in 1995.Analysts say by flouting the court, one of the federal institutions set up at the end of the war 21 years ago, Mr Dodik is threatening the Dayton peace agreement, which ended the war in 1995.