Fearing attacks, Montenegro arrests 20 Serbs

Podgorica, 16 October 2016 (MIA) - Montenegrin police say they have arrested 20 people suspected of planning armed attacks after the parliamentary vote, AP reports.

The country is seeing rising tensions amid Sunday's vote, which could determine whether the small Balkan state continues on its Western course or turns back to traditional ally Russia.

Police Director Slavko Stojanovic says in a statement that those arrested Saturday night came from neighboring Serbia and planned to "pick up automatic weapons" to attack state institutions, police and possibly state officials after the vote.

He says they were charged of "forming a criminal organization and terrorism." He said one Serbian is on the run. No other details were released.

There have been fears that violence could erupt on the streets of Podgorica, the capital, between opposition and government supporters after the results of the vote are announced.