Montenegro police use tear gas against protesters

Montenegro police use tear gas against protesters: "Montenegro police use tear gas against protesters

Dusko Mihailovic
Reuters North American News Service

Oct 13, 2008 13:34 EST

PODGORICA, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Montenegro's police used tear gas on Monday against demonstrators protesting the government's decision to recognise Kosovo, which many see as a stab in the back for Serbia.

Around 10,000 people from across the country protested in the capital Podgorica in the early evening. Waving Serbian flags and shouting 'Kosovo is the heart of Serbia', they demanded the immediate reversal of the decision.'

After several speeches, a Reuters reporter saw some young men throwing flaming torches at police officers. At least one policeman was wounded and taken into the parliament building. Some threw rocks at the parliament, breaking a few windows.

The police used tear gas to disperse the protesters.

Montenegro, a former Yugoslav republic of some 650,000 people, voted to end its loose union with Serbia in 2006 and has since enjoyed strong growth, especially from tourism. But many Montenegrins consider themselves Serbs and say the country should support Serbia in its opposition to the secession of Kosovo, which declared independence in February.

'We demand the government revoke its decision on the recognition of Kosovo. We also demand a nationwide referendum to be called on the"