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Georgia ends state of emergency | Georgia ends state of emergency |
(20 minutes later) | |
Georgia has lifted the state of emergency it imposed nine days ago amid a wave of opposition protests. | Georgia has lifted the state of emergency it imposed nine days ago amid a wave of opposition protests. |
An interior ministry spokesman said the situation was "back to normal". | An interior ministry spokesman said the situation was "back to normal". |
The move came as President Mikhail Saakashvili announced he was replacing PM Zurab Noghaideli, and appointing Lado Gurgenidze, a banker, to the post. | |
Mr Saakashvili accused Russia of inciting the recent unrest to oust him. Both Moscow and the opposition in Georgia deny the allegations. | |
The crackdown on protests drew international criticism of the pro-Western leader who has met a key opposition demand for early elections. | The crackdown on protests drew international criticism of the pro-Western leader who has met a key opposition demand for early elections. |
New blood | |
Announcing the change of prime ministers, Mr Saakashvili said in a televised address: "We are putting forward new tasks that must be implemented by new people." | |
His new PM, the 36-year-old Mr Gurgenidze, is chairman of the private Bank of Georgia. | |
Opposition supporters had called on Mr Saakashvili to resign, accusing him of corruption and authoritarianism. | Opposition supporters had called on Mr Saakashvili to resign, accusing him of corruption and authoritarianism. |
The protests earlier this month were the largest Georgia has seen since the "Rose Revolution" that brought Mr Saakashvili to power in 2003. | The protests earlier this month were the largest Georgia has seen since the "Rose Revolution" that brought Mr Saakashvili to power in 2003. |
The early election has been set for 5 January. | The early election has been set for 5 January. |
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