Georgia cops use force on protests

Georgia cops use force on protests

7.11.2007

TBLISI, Georgia (AP) -- Georgian security forces fired tear gas and water cannons at opposition supporters to disperse their protests outside the Georgian Parliament in Tibilisi Wednesday morning, according to Georgian television and other news agencies.

Georgian television broadcast live video of the protest Wednesday.

Demonstrations involving thousands of people over the last several days have called for the resignation of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.

Earlier Wednesday police had evicted around 100 protestors from a site, in front of the country's parliament, which has attracted thousands of demonstrators during the past week, The Associated Press quoted key opposition member Ivlian Khaindrava as saying. But protesters came back to the site only hours later, the agency added, before police moved in.

AP described how demonstrator shouted slogans such as "Misha, you will soon fall," as they hurried towards the meeting point.

The protestors, who have congregated on the site in their tens of thousands since last Friday, at first demanded that President Mikhail Saakashvili institute electoral reform.