This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7993167.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Georgians protest into the night Georgia braced for new protests
(about 8 hours later)
Hundreds of people have been sitting out in the Georgian capital Tbilisi after a mass rally against President Mikhail Saakashvili. Organisers of a mass rally against Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili have called on him to resign or face a new day of protests in Tbilisi.
Up to 60,000 people had gathered in the city on Thursday to demand the resignation of Mr Saakashvili. His main error, opposition parties say, was to lead the country into war with Russia last year and plunge the country into what they call a crisis.
They blame him for defeat against Russia in August's war and say he has stifled democracy. They have given him until 1100 GMT on Friday to agree to their demand.
Protest organisers have given the president until 1100 GMT on Friday to agree to their demands. Up to 60,000 people attended Thursday's rally and hundreds remained in the centre of the capital city overnight.
"This is the last chance for the authorities to stand above personal interests and to act responsibly to overcome the most difficult crisis in the country," they said in a joint message. "This is the last chance for the authorities to stand above personal interests and to act responsibly to overcome the most difficult crisis in the country," the organisers said in a joint message.
Opposition leader Levan Gachechiladz said they had "no other choice but to stay here until our demand is met". Opposition leader Levan Gachechiladze said they had "no other choice but to stay here until our demand is met".
"We are here to say that Mikhail Saakashvili must resign," he said. The leaders of the opposition parties did not make clear what the consequences would be of the president failing to resign but both sides have insisted that they will not resort to violence, the BBC's Tom Esslemont reports from Tbilisi.
"We don't need a coward for a president."
Mr Gachechiladz called on the protesters to reconvene at 1500 local time (1100 GMT), the deadline for Mr Saakashvili to respond.
"All of us are staying here. If anyone is tired, they can go and rest," he said.
"But I ask all of you to stand here every day at 1500 because the events could develop quickly."
'One homeland''One homeland'
President Saakashvili has refused to resign, urging Georgians to show unity and "work day and night... to finally liberate Georgia". President Saakashvili refused to resign on Thursday, urging Georgians to show unity and "work day and night... to finally liberate Georgia".
In pictures: Georgia protests In pictures: Georgia protests
He was speaking at a ceremony in the capital, Tbilisi, to commemorate the day, 20 years ago, when 20 people died as Soviet Red Army troops crushed a protest in the same place. He was speaking at a ceremony in Tbilisi to commemorate the day, 20 years ago, when 20 people died as Soviet Red Army troops crushed a protest in the same place.
"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.
He linked the events of 1989 to those of last August, when Georgia was defeated in a brief war against Russia over its breakaway province of South Ossetia.He linked the events of 1989 to those of last August, when Georgia was defeated in a brief war against Russia over its breakaway province of South Ossetia.
"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.
Opposition leaders have appealed to the government not to use violence to break up mass protests.Opposition leaders have appealed to the government not to use violence to break up mass protests.
Police used rubber bullets and tear gas to break up the last mass protests in Tbilisi in November 2007.Police used rubber bullets and tear gas to break up the last mass protests in Tbilisi in November 2007.
Police restraintPolice restraint
The BBC's Tom Esslemont in Tbilisi says this is the most organised protest since the war with Russia and it is one that opposition leaders are likely to be pleased with. Our correspondent says this is the most organised protest since the war with Russia and it is one that opposition leaders are likely to be pleased with.
1989: Georgian uprising crushed 1989: Georgian uprising crushed
The mood was calm as protesters gathered outside parliament on Thursday morning and there was little sign of a police presence, says our correspondent. The mood was calm as protesters gathered outside parliament on Thursday morning and there was little sign of a police presence.
Estimates of the crowd range between 50,000 and 60,000, news agencies reported. Organisers had expected up to 100,000, AFP news agency said. Estimates of the crowd ranged between 50,000 and 60,000, news agencies reported. Organisers had expected up to 100,000.
"The situation is very calm in the capital and in all of Georgia. The protests are going very peacefully," Deputy Interior Minister Eka Zguladze told AFP."The situation is very calm in the capital and in all of Georgia. The protests are going very peacefully," Deputy Interior Minister Eka Zguladze told AFP.
"The police, in accordance with their instructions, have acted with restraint. No single incident has taken place.""The police, in accordance with their instructions, have acted with restraint. No single incident has taken place."
The opposition had alleged that dozens of members were arrested before the rally - a claim denied by the government.The opposition had alleged that dozens of members were arrested before the rally - a claim denied by the government.
"The Georgian police has not arrested a single protester and has not blocked a single road," said Ms Zgulagze. "The Georgian police has not arrested a single protester and has not blocked a single road," said Ms Zguladze.
Our correspondent says both opposition and government figures had accused one another of planning to use violence at the rally.Our correspondent says both opposition and government figures had accused one another of planning to use violence at the rally.
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.
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 & ConditionsThe BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions