Tbilisi, Nov 23: Thousands of protestors massed in the Georgian capital today as embattled President Eduard Shevardnadze promised talks on new elections a day after the opposition stormed parliament. "I am ready for dialogue and if you want, to discuss early presidential and parliamentary elections, but only after you leave the (parliament) buildings," Shevardnadze said in a televised address.
Shevardnadze also said members of the government were holding talks with opposition leaders, including former parliament speaker Nino Burjanadze, named yesterday by the opposition as Acting President pending new elections.
The opposition has charged that parliamentary elections on November 02 which returned Shevardnadze's government to power were rigged, and allege that the president, once a darling of the west, has allowed corruption to flourish unchecked.
Opposition leader Mikhail Saakashvili earlier today called on supporters thronged outside the parliament building to seize the Interior Ministry and state television station.
The opposition also claimed the hundreds-strong national guard had defected to their side after weeks of mounting protests in the Caucasus country.
Yesterday, angry protestors stormed the parliament, forcing Shevardnadze to flee to his residence outside Tbilisi. The 75-year-old leader, who was elected in 1995, later declared a state of emergency, but today backtracked saying the declaration had not been put into effect.
Tensions also cooled when the state television boss today announced a deal to ensure neutral coverage of the dispute.
Bureau Report