Georgia president's foes block streets

[John]

Following the biggest demonstrations against Saakashvili's rule since Georgia's August war with Russia, opposition protesters temporarily blocked three main streets and marched on the president's office.

Opposition leaders vowed to continue roadblocks every day from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm (1100 GMT to 1700 GMT) and to expand protests nationwide until Saakashvili resigns.

"The opposition has decided to start a national disobedience campaign," Kakha Kukava, a co-leader of the opposition Conservative Party, told a crowd of 25,000 protesters in central Tbilisi.

At least 60,000 opposition supporters had rallied to call for Saakashvili's resignation on Thursday. With the number of protesters falling, opposition leaders sought to ratchet up pressure on Saakashvili by announcing the roadblocks and disobedience campaign.

Saakashvili has steadfastly refused to step down but said he was open to talks with the opposition.

"I've been listening to ultimatums every month for the last five years... My term expires in 2013," Saakashvili told journalists.

Saakashvili said he was ready for dialogue on a raft of issues, including electoral reforms and constitutional changes such as direct elections for mayors and other municipal officials.

"There is poverty in the country which has been aggravated by the war and the economic crisis and our citizens are angry today because of these problems. I am angry too," he said.

"It is not easy to overcome all of this... It requires unity and dialogue."

The secretary of Georgia's National Security Council, Eka Tkeshelashvili, told reporters that police would present "no obstacles" to protesters blocking the streets and called for the opposition to come to talks.

"We are dedicated to a meaningful dialogue... We hope that sometime soon the opposition will have a constructive approach," she said.

Protesters had blocked the capital's main road, Rustaveli Avenue, overnight before rallying in the afternoon and then paralysing traffic in central Tbilisi by marching through the streets.

At the presidential office protesters chanted "Resign!" and flung carrots into the courtyard. Opposition supporters have ridiculed Saakashvili, calling him a rabbit, for an incident during last year's war in which he was bundled into a car by security guards during an apparent Russian attack.

Opposition to Saakashvili has been growing since Georgia's war with Russia last year, with many, including some prominent former allies, accusing the president of mishandling the conflict.

Critics have also accused Saakashvili of betraying the values of the 2003 Rose Revolution that swept him to power by persecuting critics, stifling the media and concentrating power in his own hands.

"The president must resign, there can be no dialogue with him," said one of Friday's protesters, Guka Kvantaliani.

"He must resign because he lost our territory, he is not interested in the people and there is no justice in Georgia."

Both the government and opposition have promised to keep the demonstrations peaceful, but tensions are running high and some fear the protests could spark civil unrest.

Security officials said police would not interfere with protests but some fear a repeat of events in November 2007 when riot police used rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons to disperse thousands of protesters, badly damaging Saakashvili's reputation.

Government loyalists say Saakashvili continues to enjoy widespread support and that the opposition is looking to overturn the results of a snap presidential poll last year in which he won a second five-year term.

[JohnCenaFan28]

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