Montenegro defied Russia on Sunday by electing a pro-Nato political veteran who hopes to lead the small Balkan state into the European Union.

On Sunday night, officials announced that Milo Djukanovic, who has dominated politics in the former Yugoslav republic for nearly 25 years, had secured victory.

Milos Nikolic, a spokesman for the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists, said: "Milo Djukanovic is the new president of Montenegro... this is a great victory, a historic victory."

The result is likely to rattle pro-Russian groups who bitterly opposed Montenegro joining the Western military alliance in 2017.

It would also allow Mr Djukanovic, who favours deeper European integration, to push for Montenegro to become an EU member, which experts say could happen as soon as 2025.

His main rival was Mladen Bojanic, an economist who has the support of most opposition parties, including pro-Russian factions, and is expected to secure around a third of the vote.