Zagreb - A shadowy former Bosnian Croat leader was kidnapped at his home in Zagreb Wednesday and is being held for ransom, media in the region said Thursday.

Croatian Interior Minister Tomislav Karamarko confirmed that the one-time member of the Bosnian presidency, Ante Jelavic, was kidnapped, the online edition of the Jutarnji List daily said.

According to media reports quoting family members, the kidnappers called from Bosnia, demanding 1 million euros (1.32 million dollars) to release Jelavic. Police only said they were investigating.

Jelavic served as the Croat representative in the Bosnian tripartite presidency in 1999-2001.

A hardliner who had pressed for greater Croat autonomy in the volatile, war-scarred country, he was removed from the post by the then international community's representative, Wolfgang Petritsch.

Jelavic was sentenced to 10 years in prison for embezzlement in 2005, but escaped Bosnia and found shelter in neighbouring Croatia, averting extradition owing to his dual citizenship.

Though his appeal succeeded and a new trial was ordered, he remained in seclusion in Croatia.(dpa)