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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Georgia set to end emergency rule | Georgia set to end emergency rule |
| (about 3 hours 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. | 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 | 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 earlier said the announcement of emergency rule was needed to prevent a "coup" against his government. | |
| Last Wednesday, soldiers and riot police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters who had gathered outside the parliament in Tbilisi for a sixth consecutive day. | |
| Mr Saakashvili remains popular with many Georgians | Mr Saakashvili remains popular with many Georgians |
| Television pictures showed security forces chasing and beating the protesters. | |
| 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 president announced last Friday that the country would now go to the polls early, on 5 January. | |
| Mr Saakashvili, who remains popular with many Georgians, is hoping to be re-elected. | 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. | 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. |
| The protests were the largest Georgia has seen since the "Rose Revolution" that catapulted Mr Saakashvili to power in 2003. |