Montenegro to press for independence

The Montenegrin President, Milo Djukanovic, is due to attend talks in Belgrade on Friday on the future of the Yugoslav federation.

Mr Djukanovic said he would use the talks to express Montenegro's intention of becoming an independent state.

The meeting was called by the Yugoslav President, Vojislav Kostunica, who wants Montenegro and Serbia to remain within a reformed federation.

Montenegro, the smaller of the two remaining Yugoslav republics, has until now boycotted the talks because of the participation of the federal Yugoslav Government, which it doesn't recognise.

Montenegro has been drafting a law for a referendum on independence.

Correspondents in Belgrade say there is some enthusiasm in Serbia for seeing the situation resolved whatever the voters decide.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service