The figures on the turnout were presented by the head of the Montenegrin Referendum Commission, Francisek Lipka, who said that the process of voting was proceeding smoothly without any major problem.
The Centre for Democratic Transition (CDT) said that until 1500 hrs Sunday, 66 percent of the 484,700 eligible voters cast their ballots. The CDT reported some problems of technical nature at polling stations.
Montenegrin leaders and local religious dignitaries have expressed their strong conviction that over 55 percent of voters will vote for the independence of this mountainous Adriatic republic.
According to the EU-brokered rules, at least 55 percent of votes must be for Montenegro's independence so that the republic can become sovereign.
A total of 1,020 polling stations opened at 0800 hrs in this country with a population of over 620,000, and were due to close at 2100 hours. The voting is being overseen by more than 3,500 monitors, nearly 700 of them from abroad.