Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic on Wednesday appeared to back away from plans for a quick referendum on independence, saying polls showed a "divided" society and stressing the need for a "cautious and prudent policy."
"The elections have demonstrated that Montenegrin society remains divided," said the separatist leader, whose coalition gained only a narrow victory in Sunday's polls.
"A responsible leadership has the obligation to pursue a cautious and prudent policy," he added.
Djukanovic made no explicit reference to the referendum. Before his disappointing election showing he had promised it would be held in June.
His coalition has come under great pressure from the international community not to push ahead with the vote on such a slim majority, amid fears that the move could destabilize the country and the region as a whole.
A high-level EU delegation said in Podgorica Tuesday that the results of Sunday's polls, in which the separatists emerged just two percent ahead of a Yugoslav loyalist bloc, did "not give the green light for a referendum." -- PODGORICA, Yugoslavia (AFP)
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