The new President of Montenegro, Milo Djukanovic, took oath of office without incident on Thursday following Wednesday's violence in the Montenegrin capital, Podgorica. Clashes between hardline opponents of Mr Djukanovic and the police on Wednesday night threatened to overshadow his inauguration. But the streets were calm as the new president vowed to perform his duties with honesty and honour. Karen Coleman reports from Montenegro:

Despite Wednesday's violence, Mr Djukanovic was inaugurated in a peaceful atmosphere in the ancient Montenegran capital of Cetinje. Over 40 heads of state attended the event in a show of support for the western-backed young president.

Mr Djukanovic wants to introduce economic reform to the tiny republic, which is dominated by Serbia, its larger partner in the Yugoslav federation. Clashes between opponents of Mr Djukanovic and the police on Wednesday night threatened to jeopardise his inauguration.

Demonstrators supporting the outgoing president, Momir Bulatovic, tried to take over government buildings in what was an expression of their reluctance to accept Mr Djukanovic as their new president. The crowds threw explosive devices at the police, injuring more than 40 of them.

Western diplomats strongly condemned the violence. The US envoy for the Balkans, Robert Gelbard, blamed the Yugoslav federal president, Slobodan Milosevic, for supporting the protestors.

Mr Milosevic now has a staunch opponent in Milo Djukanovic. He could be a serious rival to President Milosevic's hold over power in the Yugoslav federation, and he's likely to block moves by Mr Milosevic to change the Yugoslav constitution in order to enhance his own personal power.