Warnings of possible emergency in Montenegro

The outgoing hardline President of Montenegro, Momir Bulatovic, has been accused of planning to foment a state of emergency in the republic.

The allegations come from supporters of Milo Djukanovic, a pro-Western moderate, who defeated Mr Bulatovic in presidential elections last October.

A pro-government daily newspaper Pobjeda says Mr Bulatovic intends to exploit a series of protests by his supporters to prevent Mr Djukanovic's inauguration next Thursday.

Mr Bulatovic has denied the allegations.

He says last October's presidential elections were fraudulent and accuses Mr Djukanovic of wanting to end Montenegro's union with Serbia.

Protests by supporters of Mr Bulatovic began in the east Montenegrin town of Berane on Friday.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service