Bosnia's peace overseer Paddy Ashdown banned on Saturday the sell-off of state assets until the Balkan country's authorities set up a system to ensure the sale was properly regulated. "The High Representative took this action in order to protect Bosnia and Herzegovina assets," an office of former British politician said in a statement. It said the sell-off at this stage could render the work of the state property commission, once it is established, as there is a danger that by the time it began its work there would be very little property left to consider. State property can be sold without reference to the work of the commission and much of it is still not properly identified and regulated, the statement said. Ashdown's spokesman said the ban relates only to state-owned buildings and premises and does not include the state-owned firms. Ashdown has sweeping powers to enact laws and remove politicians seen as obstructing Bosnia's 1995 Dayton peace treaty.
