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| Georgian leader set for poll win | Georgian leader set for poll win |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili says he is confident of victory for his ruling party in parliamentary polls. | Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili says he is confident of victory for his ruling party in parliamentary polls. |
| Early official results indicate his United National Movement has 63% of the vote to the opposition's 13%, closely mirroring earlier exit polls. | Early official results indicate his United National Movement has 63% of the vote to the opposition's 13%, closely mirroring earlier exit polls. |
| 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' |
| "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. | "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. |
| "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." | "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. | Two-thirds of the parliament's 150 seats are needed for a constitutional majority under Georgian law. |
| The Central Election Commission has so far released results for about a quarter of the 3,664 precincts. Opposition supporters gathered to protest, but not in great numbers | |
| They suggested that as well as the two main parties, the Christian Democrats and the Labour Party would also win enough votes to take seats in parliament. | They suggested that as well as the two main parties, the Christian Democrats and the Labour Party would also win enough votes to take seats in parliament. |
| Soon after polls closed, leaders of the main opposition coalition were saying the vote had been rigged. | 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. |
| Monitors from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe were due to give their assessment later on Thursday. | Monitors from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe were due to give their assessment later on Thursday. |
| The opposition called for protests in Tbilisi late on Wednesday night, saying tens of thousands would gather, but only about 1,000 people showed up. | The opposition called for protests in Tbilisi late on Wednesday night, saying tens of thousands would gather, but only about 1,000 people showed up. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Eyewitness: Abkhazia's deep divide | |
| 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. |