BELGRADE, March 12 (Reuters) - Serbia's government said on Wednesday it would ask the president to introduce a state of emergency after the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic.
"The Serbian government has proposed the imposition of a state of emergency on the whole territory of the republic of Serbia," Deputy Prime Minister Nebojsa Covic told reporters after a government emergency session.
"The government concluded that with the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic the constitutional order and the security of the republic of Serbia have been threatened," he said.
According to the Serbian constitution, acting President Natasa Micic will take the decision on whether to introduce a state of emergency, which usually gives the authorities and the military extra powers.
Government officials, clarifying the procedure for implementing the state of emergency, said Micic would then inform parliament about the move.
A senior official of Serbia's ruling DOS coalition said the government had appointed Covic as acting prime minister.
Separately, local media said all departing flights from Belgrade airport had been suspended and that armed police wearing flak jackets were searching cars in central Belgrade.