Prague, 11 July 1997 (RFE/RL) - The Steering Committee of Montenegro's governing Democratic Socialist Party voted in Podgorica today to remove Montenegrin President Momir Bulatovic from his post as party president.
Our correspondent says the committee elected party Vice-President Milica Djurisic-Pejanovic to replace Bulatovic as party chief. After the election, Bulatovic adjourned the meeting and walked out, together with about one-third of the committee members.
Bulatovic later told a press conference that the party rules allowed him to adjourn the session. He added that he is calling a party congress for August 3 to deal with differences within the party. Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, Djurisic-Pejanovic and some other party leaders have frequently criticized Bulatovic saying he is a puppet of Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic. The critics claim that Milosevic's policies are ruining Montenegro politically and economically.