Montenegro set for independence vote

Montenegro has special police but no army

Montenegro is set to press ahead with a referendum on independence from the rest of Yugoslavia after talks in Belgrade broke up without agreement.

Djukanovic does not recognise Yugoslav federal authorities

"We were unable to bring our stances closer, which means only one possible route remains - and that is for the public in Montenegro to voice its view," said Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica after talks with Montenegrin President, Milo Djukanovic.

Mr Djukanovic - who does not recognise the authority of the federal government - said the referendum would be held next spring.

Mr Kostunica had hoped consitutional reform would keep Montenegro within the federation.

Referendum

Mr Djukanovic said ahead of the meeting, that the Montenegrin delegation would propose an alliance of independent and internationally recognised states.

Work is already under way on drafting a referendum law to allow a vote on the republic's future.

"The question is not whether the referendum will be held in Montenegro, but quite logically when and under what conditions," he said before the meeting.

The BBC's Alix Kroeger in Belgrade says it is unclear whether there is enough support to carry a referendum as both sides of the debate in Montenegro produce opinion polls which indicate widespread support.

Pro-independence parties only won a small majority in elections earlier this year.

De facto independence

Mr Djukanovic says that his republic is already independent in all but name.

In the final years of President Slobodan Milosevic's rule, Montenegro distanced itself from the federation, leaving only the army and air traffic control in Yugoslav hands.

Mr Djukanovic says Montenegro already has control of monetary policy, foreign affairs, security and customs.

Serbia - which has 10 million inhabitants against Montenegro's 600,000 - is keen to maintain the federation.

But our correspondent says that some Serbian politicians are now keen simply to have the matter decided once and for all.