Anti-Saakashvili Protests Turn Ugly
Several people have been injured in clashes between protesters and police in Georgia, as the opposition continues its demand for the president’s resignation.
The Georgian opposition has been staging daily protests during the last six weeks in the biggest demonstrations against President Mikhail Saakashvili’s rule since Georgia fought a brief war with Russia last August.
Opposition protests with pickets outside public buildings blocked traffic at the main thoroughfares in Tbilisi, disrupted daily life and severely hampered governmental operations.
“At least seven protesters were beaten by the police, they were hospitalized with broken heads and legs,” spokeswoman of the opposition Georgia’s Way party, Sophio Jajanashvili, told AFP on Thursday.
Opponents accuse President Saakashvili of mishandling the conflict with Russia and of becoming increasingly autocratic since he came to power after the peaceful 2003 Rose Revolution.
Saakashvili has rejected the resignation calls, instead, offering talks on democratic reforms, and has hinted that Russia is financing the campaign against him.
“It was a provocation by a group of policemen who started beating people,” Kakha Kukava, an opposition leader, said.
Sophio Jajanashvili, a spokeswoman for the opposition Georgia’s Way party, said: “At least seven protesters were beaten by the police, they were hospitalised with broken heads and legs.”
Television pictures showed several wounded protesters, one with blood streaming from his head.
Earlier, hundreds of demonstrators had marched through the centre of Tbilisi and rallied outside parliament.
The clashes have sparked fears that protests, which have been continuing in the capital for seven weeks, are spiralling into widespread unrest.
Transport threat
Threats by activists to block the main highway and railway line have also deepened fears that violent confrontations could break out in the former Soviet republic.
The opposition are demanding the resignation of Saakashvili over his handling of last year’s conflict with Russia and claims his rule is becoming increasingly autocratic.
Critics say the 41-year-old leader has monopolised power since the 2003 Rose Revolution that swept him to power.
Demonstrators are planning to rally again on Friday in a bid to build momentum against the leader.
But Saakashvili has resisted calls to resign, and has pointed to the largely peaceful protests in the capital as a sign that democracy is maturing in Georgia.
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