Montenegro agrees early breakaway vote

Public opinion is split on independence from Yugoslavia

Montenegro's moves towards breaking away from what is left of Yugoslavia have taken a significant step forward.

The republic's pro-independence coalition - which scraped to victory in April elections - has formed a minority government with the backing of a smaller, more radical separatist group.

As part of the deal, Montenegro will have to hold a referendum on independence within eight months.

Djukanovic: Not the victory he hoped for

A "yes" vote would sound the final death knell for Yugoslavia, leaving Serbia as the federation's sole member.

But correspondents say public opinion is sharply divided on independence.

Campaigners predicted ahead of April's election that they would win a decisive pro-independence mandate. In the event, the pro-independence coalition won only a narrow majority.

Instability fears

Western governments have warned against independence, fearing more instability in the region.

Under the deal now reached, the radical Liberal Alliance will support the moderate separatist coalition, Victory is Montenegro's, in exchange for a quick vote on secession - probably by next January.

The Liberals will also hold the position of Speaker in the Montenegrin parliament.

Pro-Yugoslav parties performed well in April's poll

As the deal was announced, a delegation of Yugoslav Government officials was meeting Montenegro's anti-independence parties to discuss ways of maintaining a common state.

Belgrade wants the Montenegrins to discuss ways of changing the alliance, rather than ending it.

The deal with the Liberals is seen as a victory for President Milo Djukanovic, who had earlier rejected Liberal demands to be granted ministerial posts.

The election left his coalition with 36 out of 77 seats. The main pro-Yugoslav bloc won 33 seats, and the Liberals won six. The final two went to ethnic Albanian parties.