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| Georgia set to end emergency rule | Georgia set to end emergency rule |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Georgia will lift a state of emergency on Friday, nine days after it was imposed amid opposition protests, the country's speaker has said. | Georgia will lift a state of emergency on Friday, nine days after it was imposed amid opposition protests, the country's speaker has said. |
| "Georgian life will return to normal on 16 November," Nino Burjanadze said. | "Georgian life will return to normal on 16 November," Nino Burjanadze said. |
| President Mikhail Saakashvili initially announced a two-week emergency on the sixth day of protests in Tbilisi. | |
| He said a week ago he would hold early polls, meeting a key opposition demand as international criticism grew of a police crackdown on protesters. | He said a week ago he would hold early polls, meeting a key opposition demand as international criticism grew of a police crackdown on protesters. |
| Following a meeting with Georgian officials on Tuesday, US Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza said he had been assured the state of emergency would soon be lifted. | Following a meeting with Georgian officials on Tuesday, US Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Bryza said he had been assured the state of emergency would soon be lifted. |
| Opposition united | |
| The pro-Western Mr Saakashvili has accused Russia of stoking the street protests - a charge both Moscow and the opposition in Georgia have denied. | The pro-Western Mr Saakashvili has accused Russia of stoking the street protests - a charge both Moscow and the opposition in Georgia have denied. |
| He said the announcement of emergency rule was needed to prevent a "coup" against his government. | He said the announcement of emergency rule was needed to prevent a "coup" against his government. |
| Opposition supporters had called on Mr Saakashvili to resign and hold early elections, accusing him of corruption and authoritarianism. | Opposition supporters had called on Mr Saakashvili to resign and hold early elections, accusing him of corruption and authoritarianism. |
| The country will now go to the polls early, on 5 January. | The country will now go to the polls early, on 5 January. |
| Mr Saakashvili, who remains popular with many Georgians, is hoping to be re-elected. | |
| The country's opposition parties this week announced they would field a single candidate to challenge the president - Levan Gachechiladze, an MP who led last week's rallies against Mr Saakashvili. |