Police ban rally by supporters of outgoing president

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

Podgorica, 14th January: Goran Zugic, head of the Podgorica Security Centre, announced tonight that he has forbidden the further holding of a rally by supporters of outgoing Montenegrin President Momir Bulatovic that started on 12th January in front of the Montenegrin Assembly building.

The organizers were told to inform the participants to disperse immediately.

As the reason for such a decision, Zugic noted that the participants at the meeting tried to enter the government building at 1800 [1700 gmt] last night and that many injuries were inflicted on the policemen who were guarding the building ...

Source: Beta news agency, Belgrade, in Serbo-Croat 2353 gmt 14 Jan 98

Over 40 injured after "police attack", says Yugoslav news agency

Excerpts from report by Tanjug news agency

Podgorica, 14th January: The situation in Montenegro's capital Podgorica remains tense following a police attack at the protesters outside the Montenegrin government building.

A large number of participants in the massive protest rally are trying to return to the site of the protests outside the Montenegrin Assembly, while police are trying to disperse them, frequently using tear gas and other manifestations of force.

Montenegrin police is threatening the people with water cannons, by firing overhead and driving armoured personnel carriers at breakneck speed through the mass, who flee in terror ...

There have undoubtedly been physical clashes, since the Podgorica hospital said that there were at least 44 injured people, four of them seriously, in its wards ...

Source: Tanjug news agency, Belgrade, in English 0100 gmt 15 Jan 98

Belgrade radio says police "brutal"

Excerpt from report by Serbian radio on 14th January

Belgrade radio accused police of brutality

The war of tear gas and shooting in Podgorica is going on. The sound of shooting is still reverberating.

Automatic weapons and tear gas are being used throughout the streets of the Montenegrin capital city.

The police are using arms to brutally settle accounts with the wish for truth, justice, and Yugoslavia...

Source: Serbian Radio, Belgrade, in Serbo-Croat 2100 gmt 14 Jan 98

Outgoing president says situation "spiralling out of control"

Text of report by Podgorica-based Radio Montenegro

Outgoing Montenegrin President told [the independent Belgrade-based news agency] Fonet this evening that his mandate was ending in these irregular circumstances and warned that the situation in Podgorica was spiralling out of control.

Bulatovic accused the police of throwing explosive devices in front of the government building in order to have a pretext to use tear gas.

This is tantamount to crime and the Montenegrins will not forget it, Bulatovic said, adding that this amounted to manipulation.

Source: Radio Montenegro, Podgorica, 2100 gmt 14 Jan 98

President-elect's side proposes accord, says Belgrade news agency

Text of report by the independent Belgrade-based news agency Beta

Podgorica, 14th January: The Democratic Party of Socialists [DPS] [i.e. faction loyal to President elect Milo Djukanovic] of Montenegro today offered the negotiating team of [outgoing] Montenegrin President Momir Bulatovic an agreement that upholds "the strengthening and affirmation of Yugoslavia as a country based on the existing constitution and the principle of full equality of the member-republics and citizens" ...

The agreement states that extraordinary parliamentary elections will be held in the period from 15th April to the end of May, in line with the Montenegrin Assembly decision.

In the agreement, the DPS voices readiness to form a transitional government and secure equal representation in the state media for all participants in the elections.

The agreement also envisages that, until the parliamentary elections, it be safeguarded that the present distribution of seats in the Montenegrin municipal assemblies and in the republican and the federal assembly will remain unchanged.

Source: Beta news agency, Belgrade, in Serbo-Croat 1912 gmt 14 Jan 98

Outgoing president leads protesters in march on government building

Excerpts from report by Tanjug news agency

Podgorica, 14th January: The situation in Podgorica, where a massive protest rally is underway outside the Montenegrin parliament, seriously deteriorated Wednesday [14th January] after the political faction led by Milo Djukanovic rejected constructive proposals for the settlement of the political crisis ...

Momir Bulatovic addressed the rally, saying that arrogant authorities rejected a call to come outside the parliament and explain to the people why they refused constructive proposals for the settlement of the crisis.

They do not want to come to us, so we shall go to meet them in peace and dignity. Let them see how many of us there are and what we want, Bulatovic said ...

Protesters, led by Bulatovic, National Party leader Bozidar Bojovic and members of the organizing committee, set off for the government building.

Source: Tanjug news agency, Belgrade, in English 1854 gmt 14 Jan 98

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