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		</div><p>Voters in the small Balkan state of Montenegro voted on Sunday in a parliamentary election that could determine whether it continues on its Western course or turns back to traditional ally Russia.</p>
<p>The vote pitted the long-ruling Democratic Party of Socialists, led by Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, against a cluster of pro-Russian and pro-Serbian opposition groups that staunchly oppose the government&#8217;s pro-Western policies, especially its NATO bid.</p>
<p>The outcome could jeopardize NATO and European Union enlargement in southeastern Europe and could prove decisive in the Kremlin&#8217;s attempts to regain influence in the strategic Balkans region.</p>
<p>The scenic country of 650,000 people, squeezed between the Adriatic Sea and towering mountains, is deeply divided among those who favour &#8211; and those who oppose Western integration.</p>
<p>Pre-election polls have predicted the closest race since Montenegro gained independence from much larger Serbia a decade ago.</p>
<p>Predominantly Orthodox Christian-like Russia, Montenegro was Moscow&#8217;s historical ally. But after splitting with Serbia in a 2006 referendum, Montenegro took a strong turn toward Euro-Atlantic integration.</p>
<p>Russia strongly opposes the expansion of NATO in European ex-communist countries it considers part of its &#8220;strategic interests.&#8221; Wary of Russian influence in the still-volatile region, which was engulfed in bloody civil wars in the 1990s, the West wants Montenegro in NATO which invited the state to join.</p>
<p>Rallying supporters ahead of the vote, Djukanovic said the ballot for the 81-seat parliament will decide whether Montenegro continues on a Western course or becomes &#8220;a Russian colony&#8221;. He is facing the toughest challenge yet to his quarter-century rule.</p>
<p>Opposition leaders have accused Djukanovic of corruption, nepotism and economic mismanagement and say he is trying to scare voters by suggesting that chaos will prevail if he loses.</p>
<p>&#8220;The only chaos will be within Djukanovic&#8217;s cabinet,&#8221; opposition Democratic Front leader Andrija Mandic said after he cast his ballot on Sunday.</p>
<p>&#8220;I have no doubt that the opposition will show its strength and that the Democratic Front will become future framework of the Montenegro government,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Today is the last day of Djukanovic&#8217;s 27-year rule.&#8221;</p>
<p>There are fears that violence could erupt on the streets of Podgorica, the capital, between opposition and government supporters after the results are announced.</p>
<p>&#8220;I want everything to pass peacefully and everything to be good, and whoever wins I wish all the luck,&#8221; said voter Nadezda Stjepanovic.</p>
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