Protesters clash with police over church ceremony in Montenegro

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Thousands of protesters clashed with riot police in the city of Cetinje, the former capital of Montenegro, on Saturday over the inauguration ceremony of the new head of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

People from several cities across the country gathered and blocked the roads to Cetinje to prevent the arrival of the Serbian Orthodox Church's (SOC) patriarch and clergy at the enthronement ceremony of Metropolitan Ioannicius of Montenegro at the Cetinje monastery

The protesters set up road barriers with trash containers, car tires, and large rocks to prevent the church and state dignitaries from coming to the ceremony.

Crowds broke through a police blockade set up on a roundabout at the entrance to Cetinje, pelting them with stones.

The ceremony planned for Sunday in Cetinje has angered opponents of the Serbian church in Montenegro, which declared independence in 2006 from neighboring Serbia.

Montenegrin national organizations, the municipality of Cetinje, and the opposition Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) oppose the enthronement.

They claim that this act is a hint of the "occupation" of Montenegro, the clericalization of society, and an attempt to introduce Montenegro into the so-called "Serbian world."

Montenegro's Internal Affairs Minister Sergej Sekulovic said recently that the security situation was unfavorable regarding the event.

He said authorities received reports that there were extremists on both sides, planning a disturbance on the day of enthronement.

According to Montenegrin media, about 1,800 police officers are deployed to ensure order and peace in Cetinje.

Meanwhile, President Milo Djukanovic called on Montenegrin citizens of all faiths, nations, and political considerations to jointly contribute to preserving peace, stability, and multiethnic harmony.