[JURIST] Bosnian Prime Minister Nikola Spiric [BBC profile] resigned Thursday, reportedly in protest over proposed voting rule reforms for the Bosnian parliament. Miroslav Lajcak [profile], a Slovak diplomat who is the high representative to the Peace Implementation Council [official webiste], introduced [press conference, transcript] the new voting rules Wednesday ostensibly designed to streamline the country's reform process. The PIC is the international institution responsible for overseeing implementation of civilian aspects of the Dayton Peace Accord ending the 1992-1995 Bosnian civil war [OnWar backgrounder], and its steering committee indicated its support this week for Lajcak's proposed reforms.

Spiric specifically objected to attempts by the international community to dictate how internal politics in Bosnia are facilitated. Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica [official website] issued a statement [text] signaling his support for Spiric's position. AP has more.