At least 30,000 Georgians have been protesting outside parliament in the capital, Tbilisi, urging President Mikhail Saakashvili to step down.
At least 50,000 Georgians have been protesting outside parliament in the capital, Tbilisi, urging President Mikhail Saakashvili to step down.
The crowd also called for early parliamentary elections.
The crowd also called for early parliamentary elections.
They accused Mr Saakashvili of heading a corrupt, authoritarian government and want him to be ousted democratically.
They accused Mr Saakashvili of heading a corrupt, authoritarian government and want him to be ousted democratically.
The government rejects the claims. It is Georgia's worst political crisis since the 2003 Rose Revolution that swept Mr Saakashvili to power.
The government rejects the claims. It is Georgia's worst political crisis since the 2003 Rose Revolution that swept Mr Saakashvili to power.
Elections are not due until late 2008.
Elections are not due until late 2008.
Poverty and discontent
Poverty and discontent
Many protesters arrived in convoys from the provinces early on Friday.
Many protesters arrived in convoys from the provinces early on Friday.
As evening fell, an opposition leader, Levan Gachechiladze, told the crowd to remain in the square until their demands were met.
As evening fell, an opposition leader, Levan Gachechiladze, told the crowd to remain in the square until their demands were met.
"We need to stay. We need only a few days before victory," the AFP news agency quoted him as saying.
"We need to stay. We need only a few days before victory," the AFP news agency quoted him as saying.
The agency estimated that some 10,000 protesters had stayed on after nightfall.
The agency estimated that some 10,000 protesters had stayed on after nightfall.
The government has accused the opposition of using the protest as a form of blackmail.
The government has accused the opposition of using the protest as a form of blackmail.
The country's previously weak and divided opposition parties formed a united front last month, and began a nationwide protest campaign against the Georgian leader.
The country's previously weak and divided opposition parties formed a united front last month, and began a nationwide protest campaign against the Georgian leader.
The BBC's Matthew Collin in Tbilisi says the opposition is also hoping to capitalise on discontent with widespread poverty in Georgia.
The BBC's Matthew Collin in Tbilisi says the opposition is also hoping to capitalise on discontent with widespread poverty in Georgia.
The country is still struggling to recover from years of post-Soviet economic decay, instability and civil war.
The country is still struggling to recover from years of post-Soviet economic decay, instability and civil war.
Call for concessions
Call for concessions
"This government didn't keep any of the promises they made... People demand basic things - people are hungry," one protester told the BBC.
"This government didn't keep any of the promises they made... People demand basic things - people are hungry," one protester told the BBC.
Mr Saakashvili says he has rescued Georgia's economy
Mr Saakashvili says he has rescued Georgia's economy
Another protester, Omar Pirtskhelava, a 17-year-old tourism student, told the BBC News website thousands of people had streamed in from various regions of Georgia.
Another protester, Omar Pirtskhelava, a 17-year-old tourism student, told the BBC News website thousands of people had streamed in from various regions of Georgia.
They has arrived chanting the slogans "We Are One Georgia", "Go Saakashvili" and "Viva Georgia".
They has arrived chanting the slogans "We Are One Georgia", "Go Saakashvili" and "Viva Georgia".
Kakha Kukava, a Conservative Party lawmaker, denied the opposition was trying to stir up more social unrest.
Kakha Kukava, a Conservative Party lawmaker, denied the opposition was trying to stir up more social unrest.
"We are not calling people for a revolution, we are calling people for a protest," he said.
"We are not calling people for a revolution, we are calling people for a protest," he said.
"We are demanding fair elections and we think that it's very important for Georgia just now to make the first precedent to replace the government on the basis of elections, not on the basis of revolution."
"We are demanding fair elections and we think that it's very important for Georgia just now to make the first precedent to replace the government on the basis of elections, not on the basis of revolution."
Many of President Saakashvili's policies remain popular, our correspondent says.
Many of President Saakashvili's policies remain popular, our correspondent says.
The staunchly pro-Western president said on Thursday that Georgia was a failed state before he came to power but had now become a model of democratic development and economic reform.
The staunchly pro-Western president said on Thursday that Georgia was a failed state before he came to power but had now become a model of democratic development and economic reform.
He has suggested minor changes to the electoral process to ensure more opposition representation in parliament - but the opposition says this is not enough.
He has suggested minor changes to the electoral process to ensure more opposition representation in parliament - but the opposition says this is not enough.
Are you in Tbilisi? Have you been affected by this demonstration? Please send your comments by using the form below.
Are you in Tbilisi? Have you been affected by this demonstration? Please send your comments by using the form below.
Georgian people are fed up with the corrupt, cynical, terrorist government, torturing its nation for 4 years! I completely agree with those standing in front of the Parliament building in Tbilisi demanding their constitutional right to be respected and protected. Nina Bestaeva, Tbilisi, Georgia
Saakashvili is a US puppet, but not just Americans, you Brits, were telling the world lies about Georgian democracy, it was authoritarian corruption with dissidents sent behind the bars, worse than Russia. Now, start telling the truth about this Orange Demolition.Mark, Tbilisi
I am a German working in Georgia. The protests, as far as I can tell, are peaceful. I get the feeling that most Georgians are fed up with the current government not only because of corruption, but more so because it's pro-American and anti-Russian.Andreas Heltmann, German, living in Georgia
Yes, today all Georgia was affected by what is happening in the country. I was at the manifestation with my friends...
Unfortunately Mr Saakashvili and his government lost contact... with people, people who believed and voted for them three years ago. But most pre- and post-election promises stayed unrealised. I personally feel sad today, because really believed in Saakashvili, in his young and talented ministers, was proud and happy to have such a progressive government, hoped that finally we have idealists in politics. All country was thinking that way.
Of course we can't deny that so many good things have been done for this three years, in economical development of the country, today we have professional army and police, social system is improved and many other things. Results to compare what we had three years ago and today are phenomenal. I even can say that there is no one in today?s opposition who can deliver and work with the same affectivity.
But problem is that Saakashvili's government is deeply corrupted as much as previous Shevarnadze's government, there is no democracy in the country. Most important democratic institutes like press, courts, judges all controlled and roiled by government. Everyone can be destroyed, killed or pressurised just because your view is different from official one or because somebody from the government don?t like you. No matter you are political person or just normal citizen. There many examples like that...david, tbilisi
I think there isn't whole information about real situation in Georgia outside of country. We haven't real democracy. It is only declared, but there is permanent breaking of human rights, increasing unemployment and poverty. Meanwhile We dream to become civilized, European country.Mamuka, Tbilisi, Georgia
I have came just now from manifest... our 150 000 people were there and they were as one. today was the start of changes, but can you imagin our president left us and he flew somewhere for having meet with other like him people and presidents. we were waiting there for long hours but he didn't answer us, and at last he said that he will not change anything and he wants to be in same always. now news about school, he is selling schools, children houses, churches, trees, rivers, and beaches, and if you want to rest under the tree, you must pay fo r it...
today happend one thing, when our manifest started, on the sky was showed cross by itself. there was white cross with huge size and i didn't have mobile for taking photo, and I wished to have it. this cross was for many hours on the sky. and many people were crying for seing it. maybe God really wanted to show us something. hope everything will end without war.
many leaders are together now and they wanted to take people from other cities but this bad man made many problems for them, he sent to special people for cutting wheels, for beating drivers, the trains were not working and people couldn't come from far, the cars were broken, and people were afraid don't be killed and many of them were beaten , but they came as one, and they came by feet, Madonna" writing from Tbilisi via her friend John Hartill, London, England
