Thousands of supporters of the outgoing President of Montenegro, Momir Bulatovic, are demonstrating in the capital, Podgorica, against his successor, Milo Djukanovic, who is to be inaugurated on Thursday.

Djukanovic was elected last October, and the results were endorsed by international monitors.

Bulatovic, who has the support of the Yugoslav President, Slobodan Milosevic, says the vote was fraudulent, and has accused Djukanovic of planning Montenegro's secession from Yugoslavia, which is made up of Serbia and Montenegro.

Media from the region report:

Montenegro: 10,000 said to be at rally backing outgoing president

Excerpts from report by the independent Montenegrin news agency Montena-fax

Podgorica, 12th January: The organizers of the rally in front of the Montenegrin Assembly have still not addressed the participants although the meeting was supposed to start about half an hour ago [at 1055 gmt].

According to journalists there are around 10,000 participants in the rally.

The largest number of protesters are from places around Podgorica. They are carrying slogans saying: "Yugoslavia is our destiny", "The people are suffering - down with the government" ... "Let's topple the government and defend our honour" ...

The Montenegrin national anthem and Montenegrin songs are being played over the tannoy ...

Source: Montena-fax news agency, Podgorica, in Serbo-Croat 1157 gmt 12 Jan 98

Montenegro: security stepped up for protest rally

Excerpt from report by Tanjug news agency

Podgorica, 12th January: A grand people's rally organized by the Democratic Party of Socialists Momir Bulatovic [the ruling DPS is split into two factions, one supporting president elect Milo Djukanovic and the other outgoing president Momir Bulatovic] started in Podgorica at 1155 [1055 gmt].

The rally was announced as "a peaceful citizens' protest against the illegal authorities in Montenegro and their threat to the federal state and basic human rights and liberties".

Several thousand citizens of Podgorica and other places in Montenegro have gathered in front of the Montenegrin Assembly.

Judging by the number of vehicles on the roads to Podgorica, where the police have stepped up vehicle inspections, the number of participants in the meeting will be significantly larger.

There is also a strong police force presence around the assembly building ...

Head of Serbian Orthodox Church urges Montenegrins to end "fraternal hatred"

Excerpts from report by the independent Belgrade-based news agency Beta

Podgorica, 12 January: Serbian Patriarch Pavle today sent a message to the citizens of Montenegro urging them to break "the darkness of fraternal hatred that has blurred the minds of the conflicting parties".

"If I were in a position to, I would come to Podgorica today, not to side with any of the opposing sides, but to place myself in between them," reads the message of the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, which was forwarded to Beta by the Montenegrin Metropolitan's office.

"I appeal to you to calm your souls, tone down your voices, not to vie with each other in clamour, and to prevent your blood from rushing to your heads and your words from pulling the trigger," Serbian Patriarch Pavle said in his message.

The message also says that "neither right nor wrong lie exclusively with the one or the other side", and everyone should continue to struggle for his opinion in a way that is appropriate for serious, responsible people ...

Source: Beta news agency, Belgrade, in Serbo-Croat 0844 gmt 12 Jan 98

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