(Adds police statement, injuries) By Dusko Mihailovic PODGORICA, Oct 13 (Reuters) - More than 20 people were injured on Monday when Montenegro's police used tear gas against demonstrators protesting the government's decision to recognise Kosovo, a move seen by many as a stab in the back for Serbia. Around 10,000 people from across the country protested in the capital Podgorica in the early evening. Waving Serbian flags and shouting "Kosovo is the heart of Serbia", they demanded the immediate reversal of the decision." After several speeches, a Reuters reporter saw some young men throwing flaming torches at police officers. Some threw rocks at the parliament, breaking a few windows. Some 22 people including 10 policemen have been injured according to the sources in Podgorica medical centre. "Police detained 28 individuals for their involvement in the violent protests," a statement issued late on Monday said. It added that the protests opposition parties scheduled to hold on Thursday will be banned. Montenegro, a former Yugoslav republic of some 650,000 people, voted to end its loose union with Serbia in 2006 and has since enjoyed strong growth, especially from tourism. But many Montenegrins consider themselves Serbs and say the country should support Serbia in its opposition to the secession of Kosovo, which declared independence in February. "We demand the government revoke its decision on the recognition of Kosovo. We also demand a nationwide referendum to be called on the issue," said Vasilije Lalosevic, a member of the opposition, pro-Serbian Socialist People's Party. The government will be given until October 15 to meet these demands, he added. Some demonstrators held the flags of Greece and Spain -- two of the five European Union member countries that have not recognised Kosovo. Montenegro recognised Kosovo on Thursday but pro-Serb opposition parties said this did not reflect popular feeling, citing opinion polls showing that as many as 80 percent of Montenegrins opposed the move. They said they would demand early elections if the government turned a deaf ear to their referendum request. Freed from its ties to Serbia and the burden of the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s, Montenegro signed a Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union in 2007. Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic and other officials say Western countries have exerted pressure on Montenegro to define its stance on Kosovo. Since Kosovo declared independence on Feb. 17 this year, 50 countries, also including the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia, have recognised it. (Writing by Ivana Sekularac. Editing by Sami Aboudi)
A miner uses a megaphone during a protest in front of the parliament building in Tirana, October 2, 2008, to press their demands for more pay, pension benefits and safer working ...
