Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili speaks during a meeting in his office in Tbilisi November 5, 2007. Four opposition activists declared a hunger strike on Monday to try to force Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili to resign, as crowds chanting for his ouster formed a human chain around parliament.
Photo: Reuters
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U.S. Called on Georgian Authorities, Opposition to Avoid Provocation
The United States has called on Georgian authorities and opposition to avoid any actions that could lead to violence or provocation. The respective statement was made by U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.
According to McCormack, the United States supports the right to peaceful demonstration but assumes that some external force might have arranged the rallies.
For a few days, thousands of demonstrators rallied near the country’s parliament at Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi. Initially, the principal demand was to hold parliamentary elections in dates stipulated by the constitution, i.e. in April of 2008. Once the authorities rejected to do it, the opposition and protestors extended the list, adding the demand for Saakashvili’s ouster to it.
The riot police broke up rallies at least twice yesterday. As a result, nearly 500 sought medical assistance.
Predictably, Saakashvili refuted accusations that they had breached the law when battling protestors. According to the president, they had used only the methods generally applied in democratic and civilized states to the effect.
Saakashvili said he had nothing against peaceful demonstrations but wouldn’t tolerate disorder, clashes and violence. Georgian president blamed the recent rallies on Russia, claiming that exactly Russia had arranged and funded the disorder. A few Russian diplomats were promptly declared persona non grata in Georgia and Saakashvili pledged to provide proofs of their involvement in the near term. He also said Georgia recalled the ambassador from Russia.
Georgia declared the state of emergency for 15 days. All independent TV news programs were put off air, but the Public TV continues to work.
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