Montenegro’s parliament is to declare independence for the tiny Balkan republic today, forming a new European state and formally dissolving what was left of Yugoslavia.

Montenegro’s state electoral commission today confirmed the victory of a pro-independence bloc in a referendum to secede from Serbia and form a separate state.

Independence backers declared victory at Montenegro’s vote on secession from Serbia, although the unionists refused to concede defeat.

Funerals were held across Montenegro on today for the victims of Monday’s train crash that killed 44 people and injured nearly 200 others.

Brake failure may have caused a passenger train to plunge into a ravine outside Montenegro’s capital, killing at least 43 people and injuring 198, officials said today.

Emergency teams resumed searching the wreckage of a four-carriage passenger train today, which derailed and plunged into a river canyon outside the Montenegrin capital, killing at least 44 people and injuring 198, officials said.

Montenegro has officially proposed a final split from Serbia, suggesting that the two Balkan republics recognise each other as sovereign states.

Montenegro tonight officially proposed a final split from Serbia, suggesting that the two Balkan republics recognise each other as sovereign states.