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Violence erupts at anti-Kosovo protest in Montenegro
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-14 10:18 PODGORICA - Montenegrin police Monday used tear gas to disperse several hundred angry demonstrators at a mass rally against a government decision to recognise the independence of Kosovo. At least 34 people, including 23 policemen, were injured and admitted at Podgorica's emergency medical center, its manager Vladimir Dobricanin told AFP. Most of those hospitalised suffered slight injuries caused by stones or "direct clashes," he said. Police said they detained 28 people.
Earlier some 10,000 pro-Serb opposition supporters rallied to demand that the government of Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic revoke its recognition of Serbia's breakaway province. But as the demonstration officially ended, some protesters broke the police cordon in front of the parliament building in central Podgorica, throwing stones and breaking windows, an AFP reporter at the scene said. Police then fired tear gas and broke up the crowd. Several groups of hooligans continued running through the capital, breaking windows and setting fire to containers. Police blocked Podgorica's main boulevard Sveti Petar Cetinjski and surrounding streets, cordoning off government buildings. The situation calmed down at around 9:15 pm (1915 GMT), but a major police presence remained. "New protests will be banned considering violent behaviour at the rally," police said in a statement, referring to another opposition gathering scheduled for later this week. Montenegro on Thursday recognised the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo despite strong opposition from its former federal partner Serbia and pro-Serb opposition parties in Podgorica. |
