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Georgian police break up protest Police dispel Georgia protesters
(about 2 hours later)
Police in Georgia have broken up an opposition protest outside parliament in the capital, Tbilisi. Georgian police have used tear gas and water cannons to dispel opposition demonstrators staging a sixth day of protests in the capital, Tbilisi.
They forcibly unblocked the main road where protesters have been calling for the resignation of President Mikhail Saakashvili for the past five days. Several people were injured during the clash on the city's main street in front of parliament.
The opposition said one of its leaders was arrested in the raid and that a number of people were beaten. The protesters had been regrouping after an earlier police action forced them off the street.
The protesters accuse the pro-Western president of authoritarianism and corruption - charges he denies. President Mikhail Saakashvili has rejected the protesters' accusations of corruption and says he will not quit.
The police moved in early in the morning when only a few hundred demonstrators were present on Rustaveli Avenue in the centre of the city. Police used tear gas and water cannons after thousands of protesters tried to reclaim Rustaveli Avenue - Tbilisi's main thoroughfare.
Mr Saakashvili denies all the allegations levelled against himA government official said the protesters could continue their rally on the pavement, but added that it was time to open the street again. The BBC's Matthew Collin in Tbilisi says the police action provoked chaos among the demonstrators, sending them running for cover.
Opposition supporters have been gathering at the site every day since Friday, when 50,000 people rallied in the largest street protest since the 2003 "Rose Revolution" that brought Mr Saakashvili to power. The protesters say the police response demonstrates Mr Saakashvili's authoritarian tendencies.
The protesters accuse President Saakashvili of corruption and of not doing enough to tackle poverty. The protesters are also demanding early elections
The opposition said police had arrested two of its leaders and beaten several of its supporters during an earlier raid.
The authorities said they had to act to unblock the city's main thoroughfare and stop protesters from setting up a tent camp there. A government official said the rally could continue on the pavement.
'Baseless' allegations
Opposition supporters have been gathering outside parliament every day since Friday, when 50,000 people attended the largest street protest seen since the 2003 "Rose Revolution" that brought pro-Western Mr Saakashvili to power.
The protesters accuse him of corruption and of not doing enough to tackle poverty.
They are calling for the president's resignation and want a fresh election.They are calling for the president's resignation and want a fresh election.
Many of the protesters are supporting the president's former ally, Irakli Okruashvili, who was arrested last month. Many of the protesters back the president's former ally, Irakli Okruashvili, who was arrested last month.
Mr Okruashvili was detained shortly after he said Mr Saakashvili had plotted to kill a top businessman. He was later released on a multimillion-dollar bail and went to Germany.Mr Okruashvili was detained shortly after he said Mr Saakashvili had plotted to kill a top businessman. He was later released on a multimillion-dollar bail and went to Germany.
The government says Mr Okruashvili's accusations are "false and baseless".The government says Mr Okruashvili's accusations are "false and baseless".