Representatives of protesters who rallied outside the Bosnian Council of Ministers and parliament buildings in Sarajevo on Thursday met with leaders of the House of Representatives in the evening to tell them their demands, but no agreement was reached.
Parliament said in a statement the protesters said they wanted no violence but that they were entitled to express their dissatisfaction with the work of the authorities.
"Citizens have gathered to express their dissatisfaction and exert pressure on the state authorities at all levels to secure the fundamental human rights," the protesters said.
They stressed that the demonstration was not aimed against any ethnic group and that they did not want the crisis to escalate.
Bosnian Serb deputies said the lower house would not convene as long as their movement was restricted and they were prevented from leaving the parliament building.
The only one that was able to leave was Council of Ministers Chairman Vjekoslav Bevanda. According to local media, security escorted him through a basement exit, clashing with protesters in the process and lightly injuring two.
Bevanda asked all police agencies in the country to take measures to guarantee the safety of officials and staff in the bodies of authorities who have been blocked in the two buildings all day.
Security Minister Fahrudin Radoncic made an appeal to prevent an escalation of violence.
