Bosnian Serb leader raises flap with remark on wiretapping foes, then says he was joking

SARAJEVO (Reuters) - The Serb member of Bosnia's inter-ethnic presidency said opposition lawmakers' phones were bugged in the Serb autonomous region that he once led, only to assert he was joking after his remarks stirred an uproar and calls for him to be prosecuted.

In an appearance on Wednesday evening in the assembly of the Serb Republic where he served as prime minister and president, Milorad Dodik derided an opposition lawmaker as someone who lacked support within his own party let alone allied parties.