Montenegro PM quits in row over independence

The Montenegrin prime minister, Filip Vujanovic, resigned yesterday, bowing to pressure from the Liberal Alliance party, which withdrew its support from his minority government in protest at a decision to shelve independence plans for the coastal Yugoslav republic.

Mr Vujanovic wrote in a resignation letter to President Milo Djukanovic, a close ally: "The government was left without support from the Liberals and, therefore, without a majority in parliament."

Under pressure from the European Union, which wants an end to Balkan disintegration, the two men signed a deal last month to keep Montenegro in a single state with its larger neighbour Serbia for at least another three years.

His resignation, which brings down the whole government, was widely expected. The Liberals announced soon after the agreement was signed that they would withdraw their support, and another small pro-independence party left the government last week.

But the Liberals have also indicated that they would be willing to take part in talks on the formation of a fresh government, and analysts believe that a new coalition involving the parties now in power is more likely than an early general election.

Dragan Soc, leader of the opposition People's party, said the fact that the prime minister had quit at the Liberals' insistence showed that the Djukanovic camp was anxious to placate the key party in the hope of forming a new administration with them.

"Mr Djukanovic wants to avoid elections at all costs," he said.

Montenegro, which has a population of about 650,000, distanced itself from Serbia while Slobodan Milosevic was Yugoslav president.

After he was overthrown in 2000, Mr Djukanovic plotted a course for independence.

But the west feared that Montenegrin independence might trigger fresh breakaway moves in Kosovo, Bosnia and Macedonia.

Under the deal signed last month, Yugoslavia is to be renamed simply Serbia and Montenegro, and each of the member republics will be given broad autonomy But the details have yet to be worked out.