Biljana Plavsic: President of the Bosnian Serb Republic (the Serb portion of Bosnia) since September 1996. Succeeded Karodan Karadic, who was forced to step down due to UN War Crimes indictments. Plavsic is reportedly a former biology teacher and protege of Karadic, with whom she is now engaged in a power struggle for control over the Bosnian Serb Republic. In this, she has the backing of the United Kingdom and the USA, who see her as more moderate and independent.

On July 3, 1997, Plavsic ordered the dissolution of the Bosnian Serb parliament and called for new elections to be held on October 12, 1997. However, she was expelled from the SDS party later in the month, and a Bosnian consitutional court ruled her elections as unconstitutional--reportedly because of pressure from Karadic. During August, 1997 she announced the formation of a new party, the Serbian National Federation, to challenge the ruling party in October if the elections go ahead (as she insists they will).

Richard Holbrooke: Formerly the US Assistant Secretary of State, peace negotiator and special envoy during Dayton. Since stepped down, though occasionally re-visits Bosnia (e.g., August, 1997).