Georgians protest against power cuts

Thousands of people have been protesting in Georgia against power cuts which have left them without heating and electricity for about eighteen hours a day.

Georgian television has reported clashes in the capital, Tbilisi, where large areas are paralysed by protesters' roadblocks.

The Georgian president, Eduard Shevardnadze, warned that the situation could deteriorate into complete chaos.

Speaking after an emergency meeting of ministers and security officials, Mr Shevardnadze said measures had been taken to solve the crisis and to maintain order.

Georgia has suffered power cuts each winter since the early 1990s when it was cut off from former Soviet energy supplies. The Russian Interfax news agency also quoted the Georgian Defence Ministry as saying that the army was on the verge of starvation. The Russian Interfax news agency also quoted the Georgian Defence Ministry as saying that the army was on the verge of starvation.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service