Podgorica - Montenegro on Thursday formally recognized the independence of the breakaway Serbian province of Kosovo, Montenegrin Foreign Minister Milan Rochen reported in the capital Podgorica.

With the unanimous decision by the government, Montenegro became the 50th state to recognize the mostly ethnic Albanian republic.

The US, Japan and nearly all EU states have already recognized Kosovo's independence.

Montenegro and Serbia was part of a common state until two years ago when a referendum to split the two entities was implemented.

Budva, Montenegro - Montenegro has ambitious plans to be a holiday destination for Europe and Asia's richest tourists, given the undisputed beauty of its mountains and coastline, but the West Balkan country may have flopped this year through poor services and neglect.

A badly laid water main ruptures in Montenegro's top Adriatic resort of Becici, sweeping across much of the sandy beach and irritating visitors by severely muddying the clear blue sea.

Podgorica, Montenegro  - Voting began Sunday in the Montenegrin presidential election, in which the incumbent Filip Vujanovic is expected to easily win another term in the office