Tbilisi, Nov 23: Russia will "play a constructive role" in attempts to help resolve the crisis embroiling Georgia after protesters stormed the Parliament and took control of government offices, Opposition leader Mikhail Saakashvili said today after talks with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. "I think Russia will play a constructive role," Saakashvili said after more than an hour of talks with Ivanov.

"I passed on to Igor Ivanov our position of principle, which is that the President and Parliament in this country must change. He promised to pass this on to President Shevardnadze," Saakashvili told the Rustavi-2 television channel. "Any side, any serious player which will help a peaceful transfer of power will be welcomed by us," he added.

Ivanov indeed received a warm welcome at the Parliament building, where he went shortly after initial talks with his Georgian counterpart Irakly Menagarishvili, who met him upon arrival. Thousands of protesters still at vigil cheered and applauded as a smiling Ivanov shook hands with an Opposition leader Zurab Zhvaniya, who hailed him for "dispelling all fears of Russia's negative role" by his "arrival in the night."

Saakashvili explained that Ivanov "said that the use of Russian military forces in Georgia is ruled out."

Ivanov was later due to meet with President Eduard Shevardnadze.

Bureau Report