BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Hercegovina, March 23 (AFP) - Bosnian Serb authorities said Friday one of Bosnia's most famous mosques could be rebuilt, in what was seen as a major step towards reconciliation between Bosnia's former warring communities.

Ferhadija, built in the 16th century in the center of the Bosnian Serb capital of Banja Luka, was destroyed during the Bosnian war in 1993 by Bosnian Serbs.

Hardliners within the Republika Srpska, the Bosnian Serb entity, later constantly resisted Muslim efforts to start rebuilding the mosque.

Eventually, under pressure from Sarajevo and from Western countries, the Republika Srpska government agreed in principle last year that the mosque be rebuilt.

According to the Bosnian Serb news agency SRNA Banja Luka authorities have now given their go-ahead for the rebuilding to begin.