Montenegro prepares for ballot

Chanting crowds supported Djukanovic's pro-independence stance

PODGORICA, Yugoslavia -- At a final rally before Sunday's parliamentary elections, Montenegro's president pledged to make the republic a sovereign state.

"Independence is the only solution for Montenegro," Milo Djukanovic declared before a chanting crowd of over 40,000 people in the capital.

The ballot in the Yugoslav's junior republic could prove crucial to deciding Montenegro's future in the federation with Serbia.

Once an ally of ousted Yugoslav President, Slobodan Milosevic, Djukanovic has been steering Montenegro on a course to independence since 1997 claiming independence is necessary to counter what he sees as Belgrade's autocracy.

Despite the strongman's overthrow in a popular revolt last year, he has continued to promote a split and most polls show the coalition between his Democratic Party of Socialists and the Social Democratic Party firmly in the lead.

A rival rally of parties campaigning for a continued alliance with Serbia drew about 15,000 people in Niksic, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) to the north of Podgorica.

Pro-federation supporters give the traditional three-finger Serb salute

Predrag Bulatovic, head of the pro-Serbia Socialist party accused Djukanovic of being motivated by personal ambition, calling him "the last dictator in Europe."

Pro-Serbian groups claim that ties with Serbia are too deep to be severed without causing substantial damage to Montenegro's economy and say such a move would create further instability in the Balkans.

Serbia's leadership has said it will recognise the outcome of Sunday's vote, even if it means the break-up of Yugoslavia.

Four of other republics previously in the federation have already seceded, precipitating a series of ethnic wars.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Montenegro Assembly

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