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| Montenegro votes in early polls | Montenegro votes in early polls |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| People in Montenegro have voted in an early parliamentary election as PM Milo Djukanovic seeks a mandate to speed up efforts to join the EU and Nato. | |
| Sixteen parties and coalitions are running, but only four are expected to win places in the 81-seat parliament. | Sixteen parties and coalitions are running, but only four are expected to win places in the 81-seat parliament. |
| The parliament of the tiny former Yugoslav republic was dissolved by President Filip Vujanovic in January. | The parliament of the tiny former Yugoslav republic was dissolved by President Filip Vujanovic in January. |
| He said a fresh mandate was needed to pursue Montenegro's drive for Nato and EU membership and to speed up reforms. | He said a fresh mandate was needed to pursue Montenegro's drive for Nato and EU membership and to speed up reforms. |
| Speaking to reporters after voting, Mr Djukanovic said it was important that the country showed it was capable of further economic and social development. | Speaking to reporters after voting, Mr Djukanovic said it was important that the country showed it was capable of further economic and social development. |
| "What matters today is that Montenegro continues its dynamic economic development, that it will preserve social stability during the crisis," he said. | "What matters today is that Montenegro continues its dynamic economic development, that it will preserve social stability during the crisis," he said. |
| Robust growth | Robust growth |
| Mr Djukanovic's ruling pro-European coalition is expected to win a convincing victory, says the BBC's Balkans correspondent Helen Fawkes. | Mr Djukanovic's ruling pro-European coalition is expected to win a convincing victory, says the BBC's Balkans correspondent Helen Fawkes. |
| The main opposition parties - all of which favour closer ties with Serbia - say the election was called before Montenegro's once-booming economy was hit by the full impact of the global financial crisis. | The main opposition parties - all of which favour closer ties with Serbia - say the election was called before Montenegro's once-booming economy was hit by the full impact of the global financial crisis. |
| The country's economy, especially the tourism sector, has grown robustly since 2006 when Montenegro ended its union with Serbia. | The country's economy, especially the tourism sector, has grown robustly since 2006 when Montenegro ended its union with Serbia. |
| But the economy could go into recession later this year, our correspondent adds. | But the economy could go into recession later this year, our correspondent adds. |
| Polls closed at 1900 GMT. Preliminary results will be released on Monday, with final official results expected two weeks later. | |
| Mr Djukanovic has been in charge of Montenegro on and off since the break-up of the former Yugoslavia in 1991. | Mr Djukanovic has been in charge of Montenegro on and off since the break-up of the former Yugoslavia in 1991. |
| His opponents say his time in office has been characterised by corruption. | His opponents say his time in office has been characterised by corruption. |