Georgia braces for more protests

Georgia is bracing for a second day of mass protests as the opposition vows to increase pressure on President Mikheil Saakashvili to resign.

In the biggest protest against his rule since an August war with Russia, at least 60,000 opposition supporters rallied in Tbilisi on Thursday demanding Saakashvili leave office and call early elections.

Opposition leaders issued a joint appeal to Saakashvili, giving him until Friday afternoon to respond to their demands.

The opposition has vowed to continue demonstrations until he resigns and thousands of protesters are expected to rally again from 1500 local time (2100 AEST) on Friday.

“If (Saakashvili) does not accept our demands we will intensify pressure and the protests will be sharper, not only outside parliament but in other places as well, for example outside the presidency,” said David Gamkrelidze, the leader of the opposition New Rights party.

Several hundred protesters stayed overnight Friday outside Georgia’s imposing Soviet-era parliament building, the focal point of protests, shivering through cold and windy weather.

“I stayed here the whole night to voice my protest against the authorities, who are very far from the people. They are not thinking of people’s real needs and problems. That’s why people are angry,” said protester Koba Abramishvili.

Opposition to Saakashvili has been growing since Georgia’s war with Russia last year, with many, including some top 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.

Security officials said police would not interfere with protests over fears of a repeat of events in November 2007 when riot police used rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons to disperse thousands of protesters.

Government supporters 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.