Fearing attacks, Montenegro arrests 20 Serbs amid key vote
PODGORICA, Montenegro (AP) — Police in Montenegro have arrested 20 Serbs suspecting of planning politically motivated armed attacks amid a parliamentary election Sunday that could determine whether the small Balkan state continues on its Western course or turns back to traditional ally Russia.
Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic is facing the toughest challenge yet to his quarter-century rule and pre-election polls have predicted the closest race since Montenegro gained independence from neighboring Serbia a decade ago.
The parliamentary vote pitted the Democratic Party of Socialists against a cluster of pro-Russian and pro-Serbian opposition groups that staunchly oppose the government's pro-Western policies, especially its NATO bid.
Police Director Slavko Stojanovic said those arrested Saturday night came from Serbia and planned to collect automatic weapons to attack state institutions, police and possibly state officials after the vote.
Opposition leaders have accused Djukanovic of corruption, nepotism and economic mismanagement and say he is trying to scare voters by suggesting that chaos will prevail if he loses.