Since the accident a week ago villagers in the region where the child died have handed in 11 fragmentation grenades, a rifle grenade, an OG-7 high explosive rocket and two improvised KB-1 rifle grenades, a spokesman for the NATO-led SFOR said.

"This represents a significant increase of these kind of weapons being handed in that area", spokesman Alex Kendrick said.

He added that hardly any weapons had been handed over before the accident, which occurred on May 16th in the vicinity of the central Bosnian village of Gostilj.

The boy picked up an abandoned rifle grenade, which exploded.

According to figures from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), there have been 1,452 accidents caused by mines and explosives in Bosnia since the end of the country's 1992-95 war.

Over a fifth -- 21.4 percent -- of the victims have been aged under 18.

Although the Bosnian war, which claimed some 200,000 lives, ended seven years ago, many Bosnians continue to hide weapons.

According to the Bosnian Mine Action Center (MAC), 2,130.6 square kilometers or 4.2 percent of the country's total area, contains minefields.

WAR.WIRE