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/7083485.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Russia 'behind Georgia's unrest' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili has accused "Russian special services" of stirring up the civil unrest in the capital, Tbilisi. | Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili has accused "Russian special services" of stirring up the civil unrest in the capital, Tbilisi. |
| Mr Saakashvili was speaking after riot police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse opposition demonstrators staging a sixth day of protests. | Mr Saakashvili was speaking after riot police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse opposition demonstrators staging a sixth day of protests. |
| The health minister said 250 people had been admitted to hospital. | The health minister said 250 people had been admitted to hospital. |
| Mr Saakashvili has rejected the protesters' accusations of corruption and says he will not quit. | Mr Saakashvili has rejected the protesters' accusations of corruption and says he will not quit. |
| In a televised address, Mr Saakashvili said his country faced "a very serious threat of unrest". | In a televised address, Mr Saakashvili said his country faced "a very serious threat of unrest". |
| "High ranking officials in Russian special services are behind this," he said, adding that he had evidence. | "High ranking officials in Russian special services are behind this," he said, adding that he had evidence. |
| He said several Russian diplomats would be expelled from Georgia for engaging in "espionage". | He said several Russian diplomats would be expelled from Georgia for engaging in "espionage". |
| Earlier he had recalled Georgia's ambassador to Moscow for "consultations". | Earlier he had recalled Georgia's ambassador to Moscow for "consultations". |
| Police action | Police action |
| Police used tear gas and water cannon after several thousand protesters tried to occupy Rustaveli Avenue - Tbilisi's main thoroughfare. | Police used tear gas and water cannon after several thousand protesters tried to occupy Rustaveli Avenue - Tbilisi's main thoroughfare. |
| See a photograph taken by a BBC News website reader of the protests in TbilisiEnlarge Image | |
| The BBC's Matthew Collin in Tbilisi says the police action provoked chaos among the demonstrators, sending them running for cover. | The BBC's Matthew Collin in Tbilisi says the police action provoked chaos among the demonstrators, sending them running for cover. |
| The protesters had been regrouping after police forced them off the city's main street in front of parliament. | |
| The protesters say the police response demonstrates Mr Saakashvili's authoritarian tendencies. | The protesters say the police response demonstrates Mr Saakashvili's authoritarian tendencies. |
| The opposition said police had arrested two of its leaders and beaten several of its supporters during an earlier raid. | 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. | 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 | '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. | 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. |
| Mr Saakashvili has rejected the allegations against him | |
| The protesters accuse him of corruption and of not doing enough to tackle poverty. | 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 back 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". |
Have you been affected by these protests? Did you take part in today's demonstrations? Please send your comments by using the form below. | Have you been affected by these protests? Did you take part in today's demonstrations? Please send your comments by using the form below. |
Previous version
1
Next version