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| Georgia to hold early elections | Georgia to hold early elections |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili says a presidential election will be brought forward to January, after a week of anti-government protests. | Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili says a presidential election will be brought forward to January, after a week of anti-government protests. |
| But he made no promise that elections for parliament would also be held early, as demanded by protesters. | But he made no promise that elections for parliament would also be held early, as demanded by protesters. |
| Mr Saakashvili said a state of emergency imposed on Wednesday, after riot police broke up demonstrations, would soon be lifted. | Mr Saakashvili said a state of emergency imposed on Wednesday, after riot police broke up demonstrations, would soon be lifted. |
| The UN, Nato and Russia have criticised Georgia's imposition of an emergency. | The UN, Nato and Russia have criticised Georgia's imposition of an emergency. |
| After tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon were used against thousands of protesters, Mr Saakashvili imposed a 15-day period of special measures, which included a ban on public rallies and curbs on the media. | After tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon were used against thousands of protesters, Mr Saakashvili imposed a 15-day period of special measures, which included a ban on public rallies and curbs on the media. |
| CRISIS TIMELINE 28 Sep: Thousands rally in Tbilisi against President Saakashvili after arrest of his former ally and ex-defence minister Irakli Okruashvili2 Nov: About 50,000 attend anti-Saakashvili rally outside parliament, calling for early elections and for Mr Saakashvili to quit7 Nov: Riot police use force to disperse protesters after six days of opposition rallies, Mr Saakashvili imposes state of emergency Profile: Mikhail Saakashvili In pictures: Troops on streets | CRISIS TIMELINE 28 Sep: Thousands rally in Tbilisi against President Saakashvili after arrest of his former ally and ex-defence minister Irakli Okruashvili2 Nov: About 50,000 attend anti-Saakashvili rally outside parliament, calling for early elections and for Mr Saakashvili to quit7 Nov: Riot police use force to disperse protesters after six days of opposition rallies, Mr Saakashvili imposes state of emergency Profile: Mikhail Saakashvili In pictures: Troops on streets |
| Riot police flooded the capital Tbilisi on Thursday to enforce the decree. | Riot police flooded the capital Tbilisi on Thursday to enforce the decree. |
| Georgia is hoping to join Nato, but the group's Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, said the crackdown was "not in line with Euro-Atlantic values". | Georgia is hoping to join Nato, but the group's Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, said the crackdown was "not in line with Euro-Atlantic values". |
| The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, said in a statement that she was "particularly worried over reports of disproportionate use of force". | The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, said in a statement that she was "particularly worried over reports of disproportionate use of force". |
| In a national address on Thursday, Mr Saakashvili said the state of emergency would be lifted in the coming days "because the situation in Georgia is quickly stabilising". | In a national address on Thursday, Mr Saakashvili said the state of emergency would be lifted in the coming days "because the situation in Georgia is quickly stabilising". |
| He described the early elections as a vote of confidence in his presidency. | He described the early elections as a vote of confidence in his presidency. |
| He said he wanted to know he had the full support of the Georgian people in order "to cope with any external threat, to manage any pressure and to do away with an attempt to annex Georgia's territory". | He said he wanted to know he had the full support of the Georgian people in order "to cope with any external threat, to manage any pressure and to do away with an attempt to annex Georgia's territory". |
| Moving the presidential election requires the approval of parliament, where Mr Saakashvili's supporters hold a majority. | Moving the presidential election requires the approval of parliament, where Mr Saakashvili's supporters hold a majority. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Mikhail Saakashvili did the right thing by declaring a 48-hour emergency it was necessary Shah, Georgia Send us your comments | |
| The United States welcomed the announcement of early presidential elections but urged Georgia to lift its state of emergency and restore media freedoms. | |
| The demonstrations, which began last Friday, were the largest seen in the country since the Rose Revolution in 2003, which swept Mr Saakashvili to power. | The demonstrations, which began last Friday, were the largest seen in the country since the Rose Revolution in 2003, which swept Mr Saakashvili to power. |
| Protesters accused the president of corruption and authoritarianism, and urged him to bring forward parliamentary elections due late next year. | Protesters accused the president of corruption and authoritarianism, and urged him to bring forward parliamentary elections due late next year. |
| In his announcement on Thursday, the president said he would hold a referendum, simultaneously with the presidential vote, on whether to bring those polls forward to the spring. | In his announcement on Thursday, the president said he would hold a referendum, simultaneously with the presidential vote, on whether to bring those polls forward to the spring. |
| Russian tensions | Russian tensions |
| The pro-Western Mr Saakashvili has been trying to steer Georgia towards entry into Nato and recently announced a major boost in defence spending to facilitate this. | The pro-Western Mr Saakashvili has been trying to steer Georgia towards entry into Nato and recently announced a major boost in defence spending to facilitate this. |
| Moscow, however, opposes any Nato expansion in countries such as Georgia that were once part of the Soviet Union or its sphere of influence. | Moscow, however, opposes any Nato expansion in countries such as Georgia that were once part of the Soviet Union or its sphere of influence. |
| Ties between Tbilisi and Moscow have been tense since the Rose Revolution, and the latest crisis has strained relations again. | Ties between Tbilisi and Moscow have been tense since the Rose Revolution, and the latest crisis has strained relations again. |
| Russia has announced the expulsion of three Georgian envoys after Mr Saakashvili accused Moscow's agents of inciting the latest opposition rallies. | Russia has announced the expulsion of three Georgian envoys after Mr Saakashvili accused Moscow's agents of inciting the latest opposition rallies. |