The presidents of Serbia and Montenegro have agreed to try to patch up strained relations between the historic Balkan allies.

Independent vote monitors say a recently formed centrist group that advocates Montenegro’s joining the European Union has won the small Balkan country’s early parliamentary election, but without enough voters’ support to form a government on its own.

Montenegro votes in an early parliamentary election which is seen as a test of whether the small NATO-member Balkan country can overcome deep internal political divisions and instability that have hampered its European Union membership path.

Official results have confirmed a crushing defeat for Montenegro’s long-time leader Milo Djukanovic in a weekend presidential election.

Montenegro’s President-elect Jakov Milatovic has promised to speed up the small country's bid for membership to the European Union and adhere to the bloc’s policy line toward Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Economy expert and political novice Jakov Milatovic has declared victory in Montenegro's presidential election, defeating long-serving pro-Western incumbent Milo Djukanovic.

Montenegro’s pro-Western president has criticized the European Union for allegedly allowing Russia to spread its influence in the western Balkans.

Early projections after Sunday's presidential election in Montenegro suggest that the long-serving Montenegrin incumbent will face a political newcomer in a runoff presidential election next month.

Montenegrin lawmakers have approved a new, pro-Western government that promised to speed up European Union integration and make an effort to bridge a deep political divide in the small Balkan nation.

Some European countries watching Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine fear they could be next.

Australia’s New South Wales state is reporting more than 5,000 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours for the second straight day as the state and federal governments roll out measures meant to curb the spread of the virus.

A global investigation has revealed how the rich and powerful have being hiding their investments in mansions, exclusive beachfront property, yachts and other assets for the past quarter-century.

Riot police in Montenegro have fired tear gas at protesters who fired gunshots in the air and hurled bottles and stones during the inauguration of the new head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the small Balkan nation.

Montenegro Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic, left, speaks in parliament building in Podgorica, Montenegro, Friday, Dec. 4, 2020. Montenegro's parliament voted Friday to approve a new coalition government, ending the domination of a pro-Western party that has ruled the small Balkan nation for almost three decades. (AP Photo/Risto Bozovic)PODGORICA – Montenegro’s parliament on Friday voted to approve a new conservative, pro-Serb coalition government, which will succeed a pro-Western party that has ruled the small Balkan nation for almost three decades. Lawmakers in the 81-seat parliament voted 41-28 Friday for the new government, with 12 abstentions. Serbia and Montenegro were part of the same country before an independence referendum in 2006 led to Montenegro splitting away.

In this photo taken early Monday, Aug. 31, 2020, Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic speaks at his party headquarters in Podgorica, Montenegro. The coalition party leaders said that the priority of the new government will be economic development and the fight against endemic corruption which has been one of the main burdens of previous governments. Tensions soared in the deeply divided nation days after the vote when thousands of opposition party supporters staged boisterous victory celebrations throughout the country. Participants waved Serbian flags and chanted derogatory slogans against Montenegro President Milo Djukanovic, despite appeals by opposition party leaders to refrain from provocations. Djukanovic, who has ruled Montenegro for 30 years either as president or prime minister, has been a key Western ally in pushing the volatile Balkans toward a more pro-Western orientation.

PODGORICA Several thousand protesters waving Montenegro flags gathered in the capital on Sunday in a show of support for the ruling pro-Western party, which could lose power if the pro-Serb and pro-Russian groups manage to form a ruling coalition. Tensions have soared in the small Adriatic state since last week, when thousands of opposition party supporters staged boisterous victory celebrations throughout the small Balkan state. Participants waved Serbian flags and chanted derogatory slogans against Montenegro President Milo Djukanovic, despite appeals by opposition party leaders to refrain from provocations. Djukanovic defied Russia in 2017 to lead his country into NATO after gaining independence from much larger Serbia in 2006. The opposition leaders have sought to alleviate those fears.

BELGRADE Serbian officials have denied that Serbia and its president have interfered in Montenegros parliamentary election that was narrowly won by pro-Belgrade and pro-Russian political groupings. President Vucic and the current state politics in Serbia have shown two very problematic intentions, Djukanovic told Nova.rs television late Tuesday. Vucic, who once served as information minister in Milosevics government, has repeatedly denied meddling in Montenegros affairs and the election. There is no way that Montenegro is in any form threatened by Serbia, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said. Djukanovic defied Russia in 2017 to lead his country into NATO after gaining independence from much larger Serbia in 2006.

Voters in Montenegro on Sunday cast ballots in a tense election that is pitting the long-ruling pro-Western party against the opposition seeking closer ties with Serbia and Russia. The parliamentary vote is marked by a dispute over a law on religious rights that is staunchly opposed by the influential Serbian Orthodox Church. The election was marked by by a dispute over a law on religious rights that is staunchly opposed by the influential Serbian Orthodox Church. The pro-Russian Serbian Orthodox Church has argued that the law allows the Montenegrin state to confiscate its property as a prelude to setting up a separate Montenegrin church. About one third of Montenegro's people declare themselves as Serbs, which makes relations with Serbia and the Serbian Orthodox Church a highly sensitive issue.

Supporters of Democratic Party of Socialists wave Montenegrin flags as they drive in front of the Serbian Orthodox Church of Christ's Resurrection in Podgorica, Montenegro, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. Montenegro is holding a parliamentary election this weekend with the pro-Western government facing pressure over the new coronavirus outbreak and ongoing tensions in relations with Serbia and the Serbian Orthodox Church because of a religious property law. Pre-election opinion polls have suggested that the ruling party will win the most votes but not enough to govern alone. During the previous parliamentary vote in 2016, Montenegro thwarted an attempted coup by pro-Serb groups that was orchestrated by two Russian former military intelligence officers. The alliance, dubbed For the future of Montenegro, has backed protests against the religious law that the Serbian Orthodox Church says will allow the state to take away its property.