Thousands of people protested in a dozen cities and towns across Bosnia on Monday to demand that politicians be replaced by non-partisan experts who can better address corruption and nearly 40 per cent unemployment.

It was the sixth day of the worst unrest since the 1991-95 war.

"My father, mother and brother are unemployed," said Meliha, a 34-year-old former art professor who earns 7 euros (£5.80) a day waiting tables. She refused to give her last name, fearing she would lose that job as well. "I've had enough!"

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Protesters say overpaid politicians are obsessed with ethnic bickering.

"They are living in a different world, completely disconnected from the people," said Anes Podic, a computer engineer without a steady job.

Protesters have gathered daily by the presidency in Sarajevo, the capital, and in a dozen other cities. They set the presidency and other government buildings ablaze on Friday, with graffiti on one reading: "He who sows hunger, reaps anger."

Local governments in five cities, including Sarajevo, have resigned long before October general elections.

Shape Created with Sketch. In pictures: Bosnian anti-government protests continue Show all 10 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. In pictures: Bosnian anti-government protests continue 1/10 Bosnia and Herzegovina A protester stands near a fire set in front of a government building in Tuzla 2/10 Bosnia and Herzegovina A Bosnian protester sets a local government building on fire during protests in the Bosnian town of Tuzla 3/10 Bosnia and Herzegovina Smoke rises from a blaze at a government building in Tuzla 4/10 Bosnia and Herzegovina A man climbs out of a window as smoke rises from a blaze at a government building in Tuzla 5/10 Bosnia and Herzegovina Smoke rises near the police as anti-government protesters hold a demonstration in Tuzla 6/10 Bosnia and Herzegovina Dozens of people were injured in a second day of anti-government protests in the Bosnian town of Tuzla, backed by smaller demonstrations in other towns over unemployment and political inertia 7/10 Bosnia and Herzegovina Protesters hurl items at a government building in Tuzla. Protesters set fire to a government building and clashed with riot police in Bosnia in a third day of unrest over high unemployment and two decades of political inertia since the country's 1992-95 war 8/10 Bosnia and Herzegovina A protester displays the Bosnian flag during a protest in a government building in Tuzla 9/10 Bosnia and Herzegovina Police stand guard while protesters gather in front of a local government building in the northern Bosnian town of Tuzla 10/10 Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnian firemen are seen while attempting to extinguish fire caused by protestors who stormed a local government building in the Northern-Bosnian town of Tuzla 1/10 Bosnia and Herzegovina A protester stands near a fire set in front of a government building in Tuzla 2/10 Bosnia and Herzegovina A Bosnian protester sets a local government building on fire during protests in the Bosnian town of Tuzla 3/10 Bosnia and Herzegovina Smoke rises from a blaze at a government building in Tuzla 4/10 Bosnia and Herzegovina A man climbs out of a window as smoke rises from a blaze at a government building in Tuzla 5/10 Bosnia and Herzegovina Smoke rises near the police as anti-government protesters hold a demonstration in Tuzla 6/10 Bosnia and Herzegovina Dozens of people were injured in a second day of anti-government protests in the Bosnian town of Tuzla, backed by smaller demonstrations in other towns over unemployment and political inertia 7/10 Bosnia and Herzegovina Protesters hurl items at a government building in Tuzla. Protesters set fire to a government building and clashed with riot police in Bosnia in a third day of unrest over high unemployment and two decades of political inertia since the country's 1992-95 war 8/10 Bosnia and Herzegovina A protester displays the Bosnian flag during a protest in a government building in Tuzla 9/10 Bosnia and Herzegovina Police stand guard while protesters gather in front of a local government building in the northern Bosnian town of Tuzla 10/10 Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnian firemen are seen while attempting to extinguish fire caused by protestors who stormed a local government building in the Northern-Bosnian town of Tuzla

The peace deal that ended the war created a complex political system in which more than 150 ministries govern Bosnia's 4 million people. Corruption is widespread and high taxes eat away at paychecks. One in five Bosnian lives below the poverty line.

Svjetlana Nedimovic, an unemployed political scientist, accused the European Union — whose 28 foreign ministers were discussing Bosnia on Monday — of turning its back on her country even as it supports protesters in Ukraine.

"We tried elections, peaceful protests — nothing worked," said Nedimovic, 40. "All those who were teaching us democracy are now bailing out."

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Additional reporting by AP