"There is no evidence that our exercise had caused the fire, especially since it broke out outside the fire range... but the exercises have been suspended," a spokeswoman for the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) told AFP.

A duty officer at Mostar's fire brigade earlier told local media the blaze which broke out Wednesday near the Zalik firing range, just outside the city, was triggered by the peackeepers' military excercise there.

Milusic said SFOR had helped local firefighters in Zalik bring the blaze under control and it was not endangering houses in the vicinity.

Mostar county has seen a series of fires in the last week due to a heatwave and serious drought. SFOR pledged to support the local authorities in fighting the blazes, providing staff, a helicopter and a special firefighting vehicle.

WAR.WIRE