PODGORICA, Serbia-Montenegro (AP)--Montenegro's ruling, pro-independence party Wednesday rejected a demand by unionists to annul the independence vote at dozens of polling stations. 

The Democratic Party of Socialists dismissed the appeal by Predrag Bulatovic, leader of the Socialist People's Party, as an "attempt to try to find an excuse for defeat." 

Earlier, Bulatovic said: "We suspect foul play in the voting procedure at these places." 

A preliminary tally released this week from Sunday's independence poll showed 55.5% of Montenegrin voters opted for independence. It was just half a percentage point - or 2,090 votes - over the 55% threshold to validate the referendum under rules set by the European Union. The number of ballots at suspect polling stations could amount to 20,000 votes, Bulatovic claimed. 

Bulatovic urged the European Union to "seriously consider" his side's objections. The E.U. and international observers have commended the vote as transparent, free and fair. 

The unionists have three days to lodge formal complaints on the vote. Final results are expected to be certified June 6, unless authorities accept the complaints and possibly order a new vote to take place. 

E.U. envoy Miroslav Lajcak criticized Bulatovic's group saying he was "disappointed with their...talk of stolen votes. 

Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic, who has spearheaded the independence drive, has urged opponents to give up any attempts to overturn Montenegro's split from Serbia. 

Bulatovic suggested that his camp might eventually accept the current count: "If there is nothing to refute in the vote result, then Montenegro can begin reconciliation." 

Serbia-Montenegro was the last union between republics of the former Yugoslav federation after it collapsed in a series of bloody wars in the 1990s. 

May 24, 2006 11:57 ET (15:57 GMT)