Protesters and police in violent clashes in Montenegro

Montenegrin protesters on Oct. 18 hurled stones and used pepper spray against police, who retaliated with tear gas during a rally of several thousand seeking the prime minister's resignation.

Demonstrators in the tiny Balkan nation are calling for "genuine elections" organised by a transitional government in place of Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, who has been at the centre of power since the early 1990s.
 
The Oct. 18 outburst took place in front of parliament, when protesters tried to break through a fence in front of police forces, who had sealed off the building.
 
As they throw stones and flares, one protester was hit in the head and fell to the ground bleeding, said an AFP journalist at the scene.
 
Police responded with tear gas, releasing it from a nearby street to keep protesters back, while some of the opposition activists eventually calmed down the angry crowd.
 
"We seek the resignation of the government and formation of an interim one," said Andrija Mandic from the main opposition bloc, the Democratic Front.
 
If the left-wing government does not resign by Oct. 24, even bigger protests will be staged, he said.
 
"This is an ultimatum and it is irrevocable."  

"Milo thief!" and "He is over!" chanted the protesters, who eventually dispersed after about an hour. Some of them waved Montenegrin flags and shouted insults at police.
 
The Oct. 18 incidents occurred a day after police used tear gas to disperse several hundred opposition activists trying to protest outside parliament, despite a police ban.    

On Oct. 17 morning special police officers had dispersed a few dozen protesters who had been camping out in front of the assembly for almost three weeks...