BELGRADE, May 22 (Xinhua) -- At least 55.4 percent of Montenegrin voters supported the Balkan republic's independence from the state union of Serbia-Montenegro, according to the preliminary results of Sunday's referendum.

    "For an independent Montenegro 55.4 per cent of citizens voted, while 44.6 per cent voted for the common state," Frantisek Lipka, president of the Republic Referendum Commission in Montenegro, said on Monday. Enditem

A supporter of Montenegrin independence holds a Montenegrin flag in Podgorica, May 21, 2006. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

(Xinhua/AFP Photo)