A likely swoop on the world market by Russia which has had

A likely swoop on the world market by Russia, which has had a poor harvest, is heightening speculation. As an emergency measure aimed at maintaining Europe's wheat supply and holding down prices here, EU cereal managers have agreed new regulations which allow taxes on exports. Despite the penalties, traders in the grain exchanges are queuing up to sell their grain on the lucrative world market - a sure sign that the markets think prices will continue to rise. AMID mounting evidence of world food shortages, the European Union is preparing to impose strict taxes on Europe's wheat exporters for the first time since 1974. "The fact that [Sacirbey] resigned may suggest there is a peace deal in the offing," a UN source said, adding that he did not see a role for Mr Sacirbey in a post-war government because the Bosnian Serbs are not prepared to deal with him.n Sarajevo (Reuter) - Eight Muslims who escaped when the Serbs overran the eastern Srebrenica enclave earlier this year have been found after hiding in a forest for 130 days and living on apples and snails, Bosnian government television reported.Fragile peace, page 15. "He's the known hardliner in the government, and since they are probably being forced to make many concessions, he does not feel that he can stay on."On Friday night Kresimir Zubak, a Bosnian Croat, resigned as president of the federation but gave no reason for his departure.

A Bosnian Croat politician said Mr Zubak left because "he does not wish to sign what he's being asked to".Mr Sacirbey, who grew up in Ohio and has US citizenship, is believed to be ready to accept a small, Muslim Bosnia, while Haris Silajdzic, the liberal Prime Minister, wants to see the country united and multi-ethnic. "The country has to have a Croatian in one of its top three posts. The President isn't going and the Prime Minister doesn't want to go, so I decided I would go," he said. While it is quite likely that the government's allies in the Muslim- Croat federation do want a Croat in a senior position, UN sources in Sarajevo said Mr Sacirbey's departure was more likely linked to the disputes over the future shape of Bosnia. Mr Sacirbey, a telegenic and articulate businessman who became famous as Bosnia's ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters in Dayton, Ohio, that he was resigning to make way for a Bosnian Croat.

WITH the prospect of a Bosnian peace deal tantalisingly close, the country's Foreign Minister, Muhamed Sacirbey, has offered his resignation, prompting speculation that any agreement would be based on concessions unpalatable to hardliners in the government. Officials said they did not expect to learn if he was coming or not until a few days before his planned departure.. His remarks, to reporters in the US before he flew back to make a speech today, are being seen as meaning that if the IRA resumed its "armed struggle", Sinn Fein would not support it. Mr Adams insisted his party would assert that "dialogue is the only vehicle for change".Northern Ireland politicians are still waiting to hear whether President Clinton will make his visit to Dublin and Belfast as planned at the end of this month. The acknowledged joint architect of the IRA ceasefire called on the London and Dublin governments to begin immediate preparatory talks leading into "substantive political negotiations" within 10 days.He issued his "act now" call at the 25th anniversary conference of the mainly Catholic SDLP at Newcastle, Co Down, making clear that Sinn Fein backed his move.But nationalist sources were dismissive of the British initiative, accusing Mr Major of trying to "pass the buck" for the failure to begin all-party talks.Describing his plan as "a parallel process for talks and arms", Mr Hume said: "The two governments should agree to launch the preparatory phase for all-party talks in the peace process which will, not later than 30 November, lead into substantive political negotiations in round-table format, to reach an agreed political settlement."The two governments should also ask George Mitchell, a former US senator, to head an international body "to ascertain, and advise the two governments on, the commitment to peaceful and democratic methods of all political parties that will be participating in the round-table negotiations and consequently of their commitment to the removal of all weapons from Irish politics." The body should be asked to work out how the question of arms could be finally and satisfactorily settled.Gerry Adams, the Sinn Fein president, has said that if the talks break down his party "will have to assert the supremacy of our strategy, which is a peace strategy".