Montenegro clashes ahead of Orthodox leader's inaugurationBy Saturday evening, all roads into Cetinje had been blockedCETINJE (MONTENEGRO) - Protesters clashed with police Saturday in the southern Montenegrin city of Cetinje as ethnic tensions rose a day ahead of the inauguration of the new head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the tiny Balkans nation. While the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) is the dominant religion in Montenegro, critics accuse it of serving the interests of Belgrade. Thousands protested last December when it amended a controversial law that had aimed to make hundreds of Serbian Orthodox monasteries Montenegrin state property. Montenegro's President Milo Djukanovic, whose party passed the original law, had been eager to curb the SPC's clout in Montenegro and build up an independent Orthodox church. He had run the church in Montenegro since 1990.

Source: Bangkok Post September 04, 2021 18:45 UTC