Deputies during the session today that dissolved the union between Serbia and Montenegro (epa)
June 5, 2006 - Serbia's parliament abandoned the country's 88-year-old federation with Montenegro today, two days after Montenegro declared independence.
The lawmakers proclaimed Serbia's own independence, and transferred solely onto Belgrade the international status of the federation of Serbia and Montenegro, including its seat in bodies such as the United Nations.
The state flag has already disappeared from the Serbian parliament building, and the Serbian flag is to be raised in its place later in the day.
Starting today, Serbian soldiers will be withdrawn from Montenegro, and Montenegrins serving in Serbia can return to their native republic to become part of its nascent force.
The move also brings to an end the 15-year-long dissolution of Yugoslavia, after Bosnia, Croatia, Macedonia and Slovenia split in the early 1990s.
(AFP, Reuters, B-92)