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| Monitors hail Georgian election | Monitors hail Georgian election |
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| A snap presidential election in the ex-Soviet republic of Georgia was democratic and the outcome should be respected, foreign observers say. | A snap presidential election in the ex-Soviet republic of Georgia was democratic and the outcome should be respected, foreign observers say. |
| OSCE and Council of Europe officials said the poll had been consistent with international democratic standards - though they did refer to some problems. | OSCE and Council of Europe officials said the poll had been consistent with international democratic standards - though they did refer to some problems. |
| Early results suggest President Mikhail Saakashvili won, but it is unclear if he did well enough to avoid a run-off. | Early results suggest President Mikhail Saakashvili won, but it is unclear if he did well enough to avoid a run-off. |
| But opposition groups allege the vote was rigged and have staged protests. | But opposition groups allege the vote was rigged and have staged protests. |
| "We are not going to let him [President Saakashvili] steal the election," one opposition leader told the BBC. | "We are not going to let him [President Saakashvili] steal the election," one opposition leader told the BBC. |
| Georgians in Tbilisi talk about their voting intentions In pictures | Georgians in Tbilisi talk about their voting intentions In pictures |
| An estimated 5,000 or more people gathered in the snow in a square in the capital, Tbilisi, on Sunday - the Orthodox Christmas Eve. | An estimated 5,000 or more people gathered in the snow in a square in the capital, Tbilisi, on Sunday - the Orthodox Christmas Eve. |
| Opposition leader Levan Gachechiladze - the most prominent of the five other presidential candidates - told the crowd: "We will defend our vote by legal means." | Opposition leader Levan Gachechiladze - the most prominent of the five other presidential candidates - told the crowd: "We will defend our vote by legal means." |
| He said exit polls had been "falsified". | He said exit polls had been "falsified". |
| The polls suggested President Saakashvili won more than 53% of the vote and Mr Gachechiladze 28%. | The polls suggested President Saakashvili won more than 53% of the vote and Mr Gachechiladze 28%. |
| Officials said that with 7% of the votes counted, Mr Saakashvili had at least 55% of the ballots. | Officials said that with 7% of the votes counted, Mr Saakashvili had at least 55% of the ballots. |
| Official results are expected later on Sunday. | Official results are expected later on Sunday. |
| 'Triumphant step' | 'Triumphant step' |
| If Mr Saakashvili wins more than half of the vote, he will be elected without the need for a second round. But several opposition parties will be hoping that he falls short, and that they can unite behind Mr Gachechiladze in a run-off. | If Mr Saakashvili wins more than half of the vote, he will be elected without the need for a second round. But several opposition parties will be hoping that he falls short, and that they can unite behind Mr Gachechiladze in a run-off. |
| The opposition parties say that they want to do away with the office of president, and that if Mr Gachechiladze wins he will step down in favour of a parliamentary system. | The opposition parties say that they want to do away with the office of president, and that if Mr Gachechiladze wins he will step down in favour of a parliamentary system. |
| The head of the observer mission, US Congressman Alcee Hastings of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), said: "I perceive this election as a valid expression of the choice of the Georgian people." | The head of the observer mission, US Congressman Alcee Hastings of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), said: "I perceive this election as a valid expression of the choice of the Georgian people." |
| HAVE YOUR SAY I have voted for the future, for democracy. There is a great change in Georgia and I support all of it Otto, London Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY I have voted for the future, for democracy. There is a great change in Georgia and I support all of it Otto, London Send us your comments |
| He said there had been some shortcomings - notably that Mr Saakashvili's campaign had overlapped with state activities, and this "contributed to an inequitable campaign environment". | He said there had been some shortcomings - notably that Mr Saakashvili's campaign had overlapped with state activities, and this "contributed to an inequitable campaign environment". |
| But he praised the "calm and peaceful atmosphere" during the election, in which he said "democracy took a triumphant step". | But he praised the "calm and peaceful atmosphere" during the election, in which he said "democracy took a triumphant step". |
| Matyas Eorsi, the head of a monitoring group from the Council of Europe, also endorsed the election, adding: "I would like to make a plea to all political actors to respect the legitimacy of the election for the stability of Georgia." | Matyas Eorsi, the head of a monitoring group from the Council of Europe, also endorsed the election, adding: "I would like to make a plea to all political actors to respect the legitimacy of the election for the stability of Georgia." |
| The United States urged the opposition to respect the monitors' verdict. | The United States urged the opposition to respect the monitors' verdict. |
| Russia, however, called that verdict "hasty" and "superficial". | |
| Close to West | Close to West |
| Mr Saakashvili's supporters began celebrating - some waving flags and blaring car horns - as soon as exit polls suggested he had won. | Mr Saakashvili's supporters began celebrating - some waving flags and blaring car horns - as soon as exit polls suggested he had won. |
| Mikhail Saakashvili has steered Georgia away from Russia | Mikhail Saakashvili has steered Georgia away from Russia |
| But he acknowledged the exit poll results were not yet confirmed. | But he acknowledged the exit poll results were not yet confirmed. |
| Mr Saakashvili called the early election in an attempt to prove his democratic credentials after huge opposition protests were suppressed in November. | Mr Saakashvili called the early election in an attempt to prove his democratic credentials after huge opposition protests were suppressed in November. |
| Georgians were also asked to vote on whether they should have a parliamentary election in the coming months, and whether the country should join Nato. | Georgians were also asked to vote on whether they should have a parliamentary election in the coming months, and whether the country should join Nato. |
| Mr Saakashvili, a US-educated lawyer, came to power after street protests in 2003, dubbed the Rose Revolution. | Mr Saakashvili, a US-educated lawyer, came to power after street protests in 2003, dubbed the Rose Revolution. |
| His term as president has seen Georgia strengthen its ties with Nato and the European Union. | His term as president has seen Georgia strengthen its ties with Nato and the European Union. |
| But relations with Moscow have soured and Georgia's economy has been badly hit by a Russian ban on Georgian goods. | But relations with Moscow have soured and Georgia's economy has been badly hit by a Russian ban on Georgian goods. |