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Georgia braced for angry protests Protesters decry Georgia election
(about 5 hours later)
Thousands of opposition supporters are marching through Georgia's capital Tbilisi, in protest at the results of last week's parliamentary elections. Tens of thousands of opposition supporters have gathered in Georgia's capital Tbilisi, in protest at last week's parliamentary election results.
Riot police did not intervene as protesters smashed through barricades and marched on to the road where an independence day parade is under way. Riot police did not intervene as protesters smashed through barricades and massed in front of parliament during independence day celebrations.
A BBC correspondent says the mood is angry but there have been no clashes.A BBC correspondent says the mood is angry but there have been no clashes.
The opposition says the elections - in which President Mikhail Saakashvili's party win a landslide - were rigged. The opposition says the elections - in which President Mikhail Saakashvili's party won a landslide - were rigged.
Civil unrest last November and a subsequent security crackdown damaged Georgia's reputation as a pioneer of democracy in the former Soviet Union, the BBC's Matthew Collin in Tbilisi says. "We want these elections to be cancelled and we want this parliament to be abolished," said opposition leader Salome Zurabishvili.
"Otherwise we will stay here and we won't allow this parliament to work."
Huge majorityHuge majority
The demonstration followed a military parade down Tbilisi's main street to mark independence day.
Civil unrest last November and a subsequent security crackdown damaged Georgia's reputation as a pioneer of democracy in the former Soviet Union, the BBC's Matthew Collin in Tbilisi says.
Mr Saakashvili insists last week's elections were legitimate, and has made a plea for dialogue with the opposition to avoid fresh turmoil.Mr Saakashvili insists last week's elections were legitimate, and has made a plea for dialogue with the opposition to avoid fresh turmoil.
But opposition supporters - chanting "victory" as they march on parliament - seem to be in no mood to listen to him, says our correspondent.But opposition supporters - chanting "victory" as they march on parliament - seem to be in no mood to listen to him, says our correspondent.
Georgia's opposition leaders say they will boycott parliament The demonstration followed independence day celebrations
Opposition leader Levan Gachechiladze says his coalition will boycott the country's new parliament.
The ruling party won Wednesday's poll with nearly 60% of the vote - giving it a huge majority of 120 out of 150 parliamentary seats.The ruling party won Wednesday's poll with nearly 60% of the vote - giving it a huge majority of 120 out of 150 parliamentary seats.
Foreign monitors said the poll had not fully met international standards - though they said the election was a significant improvement on the presidential vote in January.Foreign monitors said the poll had not fully met international standards - though they said the election was a significant improvement on the presidential vote in January.
The United Opposition bloc came in second place with only 16 seats, and the Christian Democrats and the Labour Party also won enough votes to be represented in the new parliament.The United Opposition bloc came in second place with only 16 seats, and the Christian Democrats and the Labour Party also won enough votes to be represented in the new parliament.
Boycott dismissed
The president said on Monday that the people's vote should be respected.
Even if all the opposition parties went through with their threat to boycott parliament, it should still go ahead with its work, "as two-thirds of MPs will be present," Mr Saakashvili said, according to Georgian news agency Kavkas-Press.
"The parliament has been elected; it will work and nothing will obstruct this," he said.
The size of Mr Saakashvili's victory will give him great power to shape Georgia's future, says our correspondent.The size of Mr Saakashvili's victory will give him great power to shape Georgia's future, says our correspondent.
He will now feel he can press ahead with his radical reformist agenda, with guaranteed support from a parliament dominated by his party.He will now feel he can press ahead with his radical reformist agenda, with guaranteed support from a parliament dominated by his party.
The president is also hoping to take Georgia closer to the West, and to join Nato.The president is also hoping to take Georgia closer to the West, and to join Nato.