(7 Apr 2013) SHOTLIST
1. Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic, who is seeking his second term, entering polling station
2. Wide of Vujanovic and his wife inside polling booth
3. Filip Vujanovic casting ballot
4. Wide of media outside, Vujanovic walks towards them
5. SOUNDBITE (Montenegrin) Filip Vujanovic, Montenegrin President who is seeking his second term
"I am convinced that victory this time will even be stronger than the last time. Support for our policies will be even stronger and we will continue to meet the expectations of our citizens. That is stronger economic development, more foreign investment, ensuring better conditions for the creation of more jobs, and also the increase in pensions, and a general better quality of life for our citizens."
6. Wide of Vujanovic and family leaving
7. Wide of Miodrag Lekic, opposition presidential candidate arriving at polling station with his family
8. Lekic inside polling station, being registered by election officials
9. Lekic casting ballot
10. SOUNDBITE (Montenegrin) Miodrag Lekic, opposition presidential candidate:
"I wish to say that I have put out my programme, and my ideas, and my principles on what I would do if citizens support me. I will definitely do this in the most honest manner, and live up to everything I promised during the election campaign, and it is up to citizens to decide. Whether I become the president of Montenegro, or just remain an ordinary citizen, I will always do my best to make Montenegro a respected nation."
11. Lekic and his family leaving polling station
12. Close-up of Montenegrin flag
13. Wide of street
STORYLINE
Voters in Montenegro on Sunday were choosing a president between the government-backed incumbent and an opposition leader who has demanded that NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) apologise for the 1999 bombing of the country when it was still part of Serb-led Yugoslavia.
President Filip Vujanovic, who is seeking his second term since Montenegro gained independence in 2006, is a strong advocate of Montenegro's integration into the European Union and NATO, and has been leading in the polls.
The country last year opened talks with the EU and hopes to be the next Balkan country to join the 27-nation bloc after neighbouring Croatia enters in July.
"Support to our policies will be even stronger and we will continue to meet the expectations of our citizens," Vujanovic said upon casting his ballot.
Vujanovic's challenger, Miodrag Lekic, is a former ambassador-turned opposition leader, whose candidacy won backing from most opposition parties.
He said on Sunday that he will "live up to everything I promised during the election campaign."
Lekic wants a referendum on NATO membership and an apology for the 78-day bombing by the military alliance which halted the war in Kosovo in 1999.
Montenegro was the ally of Serbia during the air attacks, but it later split after voters supported the independence in a tight referendum.
Relations with NATO remain a sensitive issue and many still view the military alliance with mistrust.
But for the majority of Montenegro's more than 600,000 people the most important issue at the election remains the economy.
The average salary in the country is less than 500 euros (646 US dollars) per month, while unemployment rate officially stands at around 20 per cent.
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