EU calls for new Yugoslavia

Both sides are claiming the result as a victory

The European Union has called on Montenegro and Serbia to start negotiations on their future relationship in Yugoslavia, following the narrow election victory for the Montenegrin pro-independence coalition in Sunday's general election.

I call on the leaders of Podgorica and Belgrade to begin serious talks about their future relationship and new constitutional arrangements acceptable to both sides

Javier Solana, EU foreign policy chief

The EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, urged their leaders to find new constitutional arrangements acceptable to both sides.

The US State Department also said that Serbia and Montenegro should start a serious dialogue.

The general election in Montenegro showed a slight majority in favour of independence - but much smaller than had been predicted by the pro-independence president, Milo Djukanovic.

Narrow victory

With 98.8% of the votes counted, the ruling pro-breakaway bloc led by President Milo Djukanovic has taken 42.05% to the anti-independence movement's 40.67% - which puts the former fewer than 5,000 votes ahead.

In the name of my friends and colleagues, let me inform you that we have won the elections

President Milo Djukanovic

The radically pro-independence Liberal Alliance took 7.65%, with the remaining votes split between ethnic Albanian parties, supporters of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and the far-right Serb Radical Party.

President Djukanovic insists the outcome paves the way for independence from Yugoslavia.

He will now need the support of the Liberal Alliance to form a government.

Mr Djukanovic made light of the narrow margin of victory when he declared himself the winner.

President Djukanovic declared victory to cheering supporters

In a speech to several hundred supporters, he said: "It is most important to say that the political option calling for statehood of Montenegro has won."

But the anti-independence movement also saw the result as a victory.

"The result which we accomplished guarantees our remaining in Yugoslavia," Vuksan Simonovic of Together for Yugoslavia told thousands of cheering supporters.

Serbian delight

In Serbia itself, leading politicians were delighted that the independence bloc's predicted sweeping victory had failed to materialise.

Montenegro is completely divided and following such results, there is no basis to hold a referendum

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister

"The elections are a big surprise, considering the predictions given ahead of them," said Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Zarko Korac, quoted by the daily Politika.

"Montenegro is completely divided and following such results, there is no basis to hold a referendum."

Mr Djukanovic is hoping to hold a referendum on independence in a few months' time.

He says independence is vital because Montenegro could never be on equal terms with Serbia, whose population is 15 times bigger.

If he succeeds, the final fall of Yugoslavia would be complete - as only Montenegro and Serbia are left in Tito's former multi-republic state.

But if the president wants to push ahead, he will need to build a broader coalition of pro-independence forces and hope those people who voted for him remain loyal during the uncertain months ahead.