9:17am UK, Monday November 28, 2005

He used to conquer rooms full of bad guys without breaking sweat - but now the mighty Bruce Lee has been mugged by petty vandals.

A life-size brass statue honouring the martial arts legend in Bosnia had its nunchucks swiped just hours after it was unveiled.

180 Bruce Lee bronze statue Bosnia

Statue was assaulted

The chain and sticks were reportedly taken from the kung fu equipment and empty wine bottles were left scattered around the park where the statue sits.

Nightkeeper Veljo Dojcinovic said he saw a group of teenage hooligans entering the park in the middle of the night.

"I heard a loud bang but I was alone and I couldn't stop them. Police should have been more agile. They know that hooligans visit this park regularly," he said.

Several dozen citizens gathered in the park in the southern Bosnian city of Mostar to express their disgust.

"It is a crime!" said one.

"Once again we've shown what Balkan savageness is!" another added.

Lee was chosen as a hero that all ethnic groups could relate to in a city that remains bitterly divided after fierce fighting between Croats and Muslims during the country's 1992-95 war.

In a rare show of unity some 300 Bosnian Croats and Muslims attended the unveiling ceremony.