AFP Europe news agenda

What's happening in Europe on Sunday:

 

+ Montenegro and Lithuania hold parliamentary elections

+ Belgian Flemish nationalists eye gains in local polls

 

PODGORICA: Montenegro heads to the polls, which look set to keep the centre-left coalition in the saddle to lead European Union entry talks for the tiny Balkan country. Polling stations open from 0500 GMT to 1800 GMT. Picture. Video. (MONTENEGRO-VOTE-EU)

 

VILNIUS: Lithuanian general election starting 0400 GMT in which austerity-weary voters are expected to evict the Baltic state's centre-right government in favour of left-wing and populist parties, despite an economic recovery. Polling stations close at 1700 GMT. Picture. (LITHUANIA-VOTE)

 

BRUSSELS: Belgium holds municipal elections that have taken on unusual importance as a potential make or break vote on the country's future with Flemish nationalists eyeing a key breakthrough. Polling stations open from 0600 GMT to 1400 GMT and initial results expected in the early evening. Picture. Video. (BELGIUM-VOTE-MUNICIPAL)

 

-- OTHER ITEMS --

 

ISTANBUL/MOSCOW: Monitoring mounting tensions between onetime allies Syria and Turkey after Damascus banned Turkish passenger flights from its airspace in retaliation for Ankara's decision to stop Syrian civil aviation flights over its territory. (SYRIA-CONFLICT-TURKEY)

 

LUXEMBOURG: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov meets with his European Union counterparts for an informal dinner starting 1600 GMT to discuss Syria, Iran and Belarus. (EU-RUSSIA)

 

PRAGUE: Results due at 1000 GMT in Czech Republic regional elections as well as in first round of a Senate by-election to pick 27 of the parliament's 81 senators. (CZECH-VOTE)

 

MOSCOW: Russia holds elections in dozens of regions with newly resumed public voting for five governors and a closely watched mayoral race in a Moscow satellite contested by protest leader Yevgenia Chirikova. From 0400 GMT. Picture. (RUSSIA-VOTE)

 

OSLO: Following developments after Norwegian police released on Saturday images of a woman and man suspected of stealing crown jewels belonging to Ghana's King Otomfuo Osei Tutu II from a hotel lobby in Oslo. (NORWAY-GHANA-THEFT-ROYALS)

 

VATICAN CITY: Pope Benedict XVI delivers his traditional weekly Angelus prayer at 1000 GMT. Picture. Monitoring.

 

FRANKFURT: The Frankfurt Book Fair, the world's biggest, welcomes the public for a second day, with this year's edition centred around children's literature and New Zealand as guest of honour. Picture. (ENTERTAINMENT-LIFESTYLE-GERMANY-BOOK-FAIR)

 

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