ASHDOWN, COVIC EXTEND CONDOLENCES OVER IZETBEGOVIC'S DEATH

SARAJEVO, Oct 19 (Hina) - The international community's High Representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Paddy Ashdown, and Bosnian Presidency chairman Dragan Covic on Sunday sent notes of condolence to the family of war-time state Presidency chairman Alija Izetbegovic, who died this afternoon. #L# Electronic media in the country reported that Croatian President Stjepan Mesic had been among the first foreign officials to extend condolences over the 78-year-old's death. In a statement released by all national media, Ashdown said he felt he spoke on behalf of the entire international community in expressing genuine sorrow over Izetbegovic's passing. Izetbegovic was the undisputed father of his Muslim people and there would likely be no Bosnia-Herzegovina today without Izetbegovic's leadership, said Ashdown, who visited him in hospital in Sarajevo twice in the past month. The High Representative said he saw Izetbegovic's death as a sort of political quake. Haris Silajdzic, one of Izetbegovic's closest associates since the time of the establishment of the Party of Democratic Action, said from Turkey that Izetbegovic unarguably deserved a place in Bosnian history because he had been its leader in the most difficult time -- the 1990s war. Izetbegovic died at 1425 hours of heart illness. His chronic condition was seriously aggravated when he broke four ribs during a fall on September 4. Numerous officials, political parties' leaders and representatives of the international community extended condolences over his death, which they said would be a great loss for Bosnia. (hina) ha