Bosnia presidents say accept PM resignation

SARAJEVO, Nov 12 (Reuters) Bosnia's three-man presidency formally accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Nikola Spiric today, signaling the start of difficult talks on a new cabinet and possible early elections in the divided country.

Spiric will remain caretaker PM while the country's three rival ethnic groups -- Bosnian Serbs, Croats and Muslims -- try to find a compromise candidate for prime minister. If they cannot agree, the country must hold a general election.

Spiric, an ethnic Serb, resigned on November 1 in protest at external ''meddling'', saying a recent measure by international peace envoy Miroslav Lajcak infringed on the autonomy the Bosnian Serbs got at the end of Bosnia's 1992-95 war.

REUTERS PD RAI1912