Opposition claims major irregularities in Montenegro vote

A supporter of Montenegro's Prime Minister and long-ruling Democratic Party of Socialists leader Milo Djukanovic holds his portrait during celebration after parliamentary elections, in Podgorica, Montenegro, early Monday, Oct. 17, 2016. Montenegro's pro-West ruling party has won the most votes in the small Balkan country's parliamentary election on Sunday, according to unofficial results, but without enough support to govern alone and assure the country's chartered course into NATO and other Western institutions.(AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (The Associated Press)

A supporter of Montenegro's Prime Minister and long-ruling Democratic Party of Socialists leader Milo Djukanovic holds his portrait during celebration after parliamentary elections, in Podgorica, Montenegro, early Monday, Oct. 17, 2016. Both the ruling party and the opposition claimed they have enough seats to form the country's future government. The outcome of those negotiations will determine whether the state continues on its Western course or turns back to traditional ally Russia. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (The Associated Press)

A supporter of Montenegro's Prime Minister and long-ruling Democratic Party of Socialists leader Milo Djukanovic waves Montenegro flag during celebration after parliamentary elections, in Podgorica, Montenegro, early Monday, Oct. 17, 2016. Both the ruling party and the opposition claimed they have enough seats to form the country's future government. The outcome of those negotiations will determine whether the state continues on its Western course or turns back to traditional ally Russia. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) (The Associated Press)

Montenegro's opposition parties are claiming that a parliamentary election which resulted inconclusively was packed with irregularities.

Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic's long-ruling party won the most votes in the Sunday ballot, but without enough support to govern alone. Both the opposition and the Democratic Party of Socialists will now have to try form a governing coalition with several small groups represented in the 81-seat parliament.

The tense election was marked by the arrest of 20 people suspected of planning politically motivated armed attacks against Djukanovic and his supporters. Opposition leaders claim that thousands of their supporters were rounded up by the police on the election day.

Opposition Democratic Front leader Andrija Mandic said Monday that "the police junta did everything to keep Djukanovic in power."