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| Georgia braced for mass protests | Georgia braced for mass protests |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A Georgian opposition party has claimed that dozens of its members have been arrested in overnight raids ahead of anti-government demonstrations. | A Georgian opposition party has claimed that dozens of its members have been arrested in overnight raids ahead of anti-government demonstrations. |
| The Democratic Movement-United Georgia said they had meant to join protesters who have started gathering in Tbilisi. | The Democratic Movement-United Georgia said they had meant to join protesters who have started gathering in Tbilisi. |
| The government said the arrests claim "is not true". | The government said the arrests claim "is not true". |
| Meanwhile President Mikhail Saakashvili called on Georgians to show unity and "work day and night... to finally liberate our Georgia". | Meanwhile President Mikhail Saakashvili called on Georgians to show unity and "work day and night... to finally liberate our Georgia". |
| He was speaking at a ceremony to commemorate the day, 20 years ago, when 20 people died as Soviet Red Army troops crushed a popular protest in Tbilisi. | He was speaking at a ceremony to commemorate the day, 20 years ago, when 20 people died as Soviet Red Army troops crushed a popular protest in Tbilisi. |
| "It is absolutely clear that no matter what opinions we may hold and how we may differ from each other, we have one homeland," he said. | "It is absolutely clear that no matter what opinions we may hold and how we may differ from each other, we have one homeland," he said. |
| 1989: Georgian uprising crushed | 1989: Georgian uprising crushed |
| He linked the events of 1989 to those of last August, when Georgia fought a brief war against Russia. | He linked the events of 1989 to those of last August, when Georgia fought a brief war against Russia. |
| "This is what these people sacrificed themselves for under Russian tank tracks, and what our fighters sacrificed themselves for last August... freedom and a united Georgia," he said. | "This is what these people sacrificed themselves for under Russian tank tracks, and what our fighters sacrificed themselves for last August... freedom and a united Georgia," he said. |
| The BBC's Tom Esslemont in Tbilisi says opposition leaders have deliberately chosen this poignant date for their demonstrations. | The BBC's Tom Esslemont in Tbilisi says opposition leaders have deliberately chosen this poignant date for their demonstrations. |
| They have appealed to the government not to use violence to break up mass protests. | They have appealed to the government not to use violence to break up mass protests. |
| Thousands of people are expected to join rallies calling on President Saakashvili to stand down. | Thousands of people are expected to join rallies calling on President Saakashvili to stand down. |
| Protesters say he provoked the war with Russia last year and that there is "no democracy" in the country. | Protesters say he provoked the war with Russia last year and that there is "no democracy" in the country. |
| Police used rubber bullets and tear gas to break up the last mass protests in the capital, Tbilisi, in November 2007. | Police used rubber bullets and tear gas to break up the last mass protests in the capital, Tbilisi, in November 2007. |
| Van-loads of riot police were seen arriving at Tbilisi's square early on Thursday morning, Reuters reported. | |
| Claims of plot | Claims of plot |
| Mr Saakashvili's critics say he is to blame for the country's current situation and should resign. | Mr Saakashvili's critics say he is to blame for the country's current situation and should resign. |
| "I don't think that it should be a surprise that after we lost 20% of Georgian territory and have no democracy in the country, we are asking for the resignation of the president," said Nino Burjanadze. | "I don't think that it should be a surprise that after we lost 20% of Georgian territory and have no democracy in the country, we are asking for the resignation of the president," said Nino Burjanadze. |
| Ms Burjanadze was formerly an ally of Mr Saakashvili but now leads the opposition Democratic Movement-United Georgia party. | Ms Burjanadze was formerly an ally of Mr Saakashvili but now leads the opposition Democratic Movement-United Georgia party. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Undercover video filmed by Georgian police | Undercover video filmed by Georgian police |
| Our correspondent says both opposition and government figures have accused one another of planning to use violence in Thursday's rallies. | Our correspondent says both opposition and government figures have accused one another of planning to use violence in Thursday's rallies. |
| Video footage was recently released by the government allegedly showing a group of opposition supporters planning a disturbance at the protests. | Video footage was recently released by the government allegedly showing a group of opposition supporters planning a disturbance at the protests. |
| The government accused the men of trying to provoke the government into using force. | The government accused the men of trying to provoke the government into using force. |
| Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili said the government would "not intervene or impede members of the protest in expressing their will freely" but indicated that the authorities could take action if they deemed it necessary. | Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili said the government would "not intervene or impede members of the protest in expressing their will freely" but indicated that the authorities could take action if they deemed it necessary. |
| "My position does not give me the liberty to exclude anything, but my mood tells me there will not be violence," he told Reuters. | "My position does not give me the liberty to exclude anything, but my mood tells me there will not be violence," he told Reuters. |
| "There is no chance of a revolution in Georgia." | "There is no chance of a revolution in Georgia." |
| Are you in Georgia? Are you going to attend protests? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in Georgia? Are you going to attend protests? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |