Montenegro opposition leader: Freedom has happened

Montenegro's pro-Serb and Russian opposition alliance claimed victory against the long-ruling pro-Western party in a tense parliamentary election that could see a change in the course of the small Balkan state.

“Freedom has happened," said Zdravko Krivokapic, the leader of the opposition For the Future of Montenegro coalition after a vote count by the Center for Monitoring and Research, an independent group.

CeMi said that with some of the 70% of the vote counted, the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists that has been in power for 30 years had about 35% while Krivokapic' main opposition group had about 33%.

If the result is officially confirmed, the opposition has a bigger chance to form a coalition that will rule Montenegro and unseat the Socialists.

Complete official results are expected Monday.

The election was marked by a dispute over a law on religious rights that is staunchly opposed by the influential Serbian Orthodox Church.

The issue has fueled divisions in the nation of 620,000 people that has defied its traditional Slavic allies Serbia and Russia to become independent in 2006 and join NATO in 2017.

The Socialists and their leader, Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic, have faced accusations of autocratic rule, widespread graft and criminal links.

Djukanovic said Sunday before the vote closed that the results would determine whether Montenegro will continue toward membership in the European Union or allow Serbia and Russia to install their stooges.