A Montenegrin court has convicted a suspect in the 2004 slaying of a prominent opposition editor and sentenced him to 30 years in prison.

The International Monetary Fund warned Tuesday that Montenegro’s economy _ one of the fastest growing in Europe _ will slowdown dramatically next year amid the global financial crisis.

Montenegro’s police have banned a pro-Serb rally later this week after violent clashes injured at least 34 people on Monday.

Police fired tear gas at thousands of angry pro-Serb Montenegrins who pelted state buildings and fired flares Monday to protest their government’s recognition of Kosovo’s independence.

Both Montenegro and Macedonia recognized Kosovo’s independence on Thursday, despite opposition from Serbia, which called the moves by its Balkan neighbors a betrayal and expelled the Montenegrin ambassador from Belgrade.

Macedonia has recognized Kosovo’s independence hours after a similar move by Montenegro.

Montenegro recognized the independence of Kosovo on Thursday in defiance of staunch opposition from its traditional ally Serbia, which expelled Montenegro’s ambassador.

Serbia has won the bronze medal in men’s Olympic water polo, beating fellow Balkan country Montenegro 6-4 despite playing without two of its top players who reportedly got hurt in a fight.

Serbia was playing the bronze-medal game against Montenegro on Sunday without top scorer Aleksandar Sapic and goalkeeper Denis Sefik.

A Montenegrin court said Friday it ordered three U.S. citizens and seven other ethnic Albanians back to prison after convicting them of plotting a rebellion to establish an Albanian autonomous region within the Adriatic country.