4th July 2001

Bosnian Serbs face tribunal pressure

For the past five days Yugoslavia has been run by a caretaker government after last week's resignation of the federal prime minister. That in turn led to concern about the future viability of the Yugoslav Federation. The federal parliament is due to meet today to discuss the crisis and appoint a new prime minister and cabinet. More protests are planned by Serbian nationalists, several thousand of whom have been out on the streets in support of Mr Milosevic over the past week. Now they're calling for new elections. Most politicians though, like their people, have no appetite for more political uncertainty. They want to get on with the job of repairing the destruction wreaked on the Yugoslav economy during more than a decade of Milosevic misrule.

a caretaker government - a temporary government in power until a new government is appointed

concern about the future viability - worries about the future existence

out on the streets - protesting in public

have no appetite for - don't want

get on with the job - continue doing the work

destruction wreaked on - damage done to

misrule - bad government

Tribunal - a special court or committee that is appointed to deal with particular problems

breakthrough - important development or achievement

to follow it up with - to take further action on (something) ;do something more

an open secret - something which is supposed to be a secret but that many people know about

hard-line - with a firm or extreme policy

to block - to prevent something from being done