An exit poll suggests President Mikhail Saakashvili's governing party has won parliamentary elections in Georgia.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has claimed victory for his ruling party in parliamentary polls, Reuters news agency has said.
Mr Saakashvili's United National Movement took 63% of the vote, said the exit poll - with the opposition trailing with 14%.
Early official results indicate his United National Movement has 61% of the vote to the opposition's 14%.
Opposition supporters gathered in the capital Tbilisi for a late night protest, saying the vote was rigged, but numbers fell short of expectations.
Opposition supporters gathered in the capital Tbilisi for a late night protest, saying the vote was rigged, but numbers fell short of expectations.
The vote is being seen as a test of Georgia's commitment to democracy.
The vote is being seen as a test of Georgia's commitment to democracy.
The election took place amid fears of political unrest, and rising tensions between Georgia and Russia.
The election took place amid fears of political unrest, and rising tensions between Georgia and Russia.
'Different picture'
'Different picture'
"In Georgia our democracy is alive and well," President Mikhail Saakashvili insisted, after voting on Wednesday.
"Even I was astonished by the big level of support which we got in these parliamentary elections," Mr Saakashvili said in comments quoted by Reuters.
Leaders of the main opposition coalition disagreed.
"There are no final figures yet but there is a very high probability that the National Movement will get the number of seats in parliament that would be close to a constitutional majority."
Two-thirds of the parliament's 150 seats are needed for a constitutional majority under Georgian law.
The Central Election Commission has released its first early results, giving the United National Movement more than 61% of the vote in the party list that will account for half the seats; the main United Opposition Council had more than 14%.
Georgia is trying to makes itself a model democracy
Soon after polls closed, leaders of the main opposition coalition were saying the vote had been rigged.
"There was total falsification, especially in the regions," said Georgy Gamkrelidze, a leader of the United Opposition Council.
"There was total falsification, especially in the regions," said Georgy Gamkrelidze, a leader of the United Opposition Council.
"According to our data, the picture is totally different," he told Associated Press news agency.
"According to our data, the picture is totally different," he told Associated Press news agency.
The opposition called for protests in Tbilisi, saying tens of thousands would gather, but only about 1,000 showed up.
The opposition called for protests in Tbilisi, saying tens of thousands would gather, but only about 1,000 people showed up.
President Mikhail Saakashvili urged Georgians to stay united
The opposition's own partial results for the vote in Tbilisi were released, indicating the United Opposition had more than 40% and the United National Movement took 32%.
The opposition's own partial results for the vote in Tbilisi were released, indicating the United Opposition had more than 40% and the United National Movement took 32%.
Protesters then watched live coverage of the Champions League final in Moscow between English teams Manchester United and Chelsea.
Protesters then watched live coverage of the Champions League final in Moscow between English teams Manchester United and Chelsea.
Georgia's Central Election Commission is to begin releasing its results on Thursday when international poll monitors from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe will also deliver their judgement.
International poll monitors from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe are to deliver their judgement of the election later on Thursday.
The opposition largely shares President Saakashvili's pro-Western leanings but say he has failed to tackle unemployment and corruption.
The opposition largely shares President Saakashvili's pro-Western leanings but say he has failed to tackle unemployment and corruption.
They are also angry about riot police being sent in to break up opposition protests last year and say the government has taken on authoritarian tendencies under President Saakashvili.
They are also angry about riot police being sent in to break up opposition protests last year and say the government has taken on authoritarian tendencies under President Saakashvili.
Acts of violence
Acts of violence
Election day was marred by incidents of violence in or near the breakaway region of Abkhazia.
Election day was marred by incidents of violence in or near the breakaway region of Abkhazia.
A bus carrying voters came under fire, leaving several people injured and sparking a gun battle that lasted for 20 minutes, witnesses said. The government blamed Abkhaz separatists.
A bus carrying voters came under fire, leaving several people injured and sparking a gun battle that lasted for 20 minutes, witnesses said. The government blamed Abkhaz separatists.
The opposition also said one of its activists was killed in a district bordering Abkhazia as he went out to vote.
The opposition also said one of its activists was killed in a district bordering Abkhazia as he went out to vote.
"He was shot with a hunting rifle... We do not know who killed him but we demand an immediate investigation," said opposition leader David Gamkrelidze.
"He was shot with a hunting rifle... We do not know who killed him but we demand an immediate investigation," said opposition leader David Gamkrelidze.
But the government says the killing was the result of a domestic dispute and was not politically motivated.
But the government says the killing was the result of a domestic dispute and was not politically motivated.
Abkhazia is at the heart of heightened tensions with Russia.
Abkhazia is at the heart of heightened tensions with Russia.
Moscow accuses Georgia of preparing to invade Abkhazia, where many residents hold Russian passports. Georgia says Russia is preparing to annex the region.
Moscow accuses Georgia of preparing to invade Abkhazia, where many residents hold Russian passports. Georgia says Russia is preparing to annex the region.
Are you in Georgia? Have you been to the polls? What is the mood like? Send us your comments using the form below.
Are you in Georgia? Have you been to the polls? What is the mood like? Send us your comments using the form below.
