Tbilisi protesters maintain vigil

The protests are continuing on Sunday

Thousands of protesters who spent Saturday night camped outside the parliament in Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, have vowed not to leave until President Eduard Shevardnadze resigns.

The opposition says results from last Sunday's general election have been rigged in the government bloc's favour.

Mr Shevardnadze briefly visited the parliament on Sunday morning, in an apparent effort to talk to opposition leaders, but left after being jeered by the crowd.

The central electoral commission has suspended the counting of votes, saying the courts should rule on the issue first.

"There are a lot of complaints and until those complaints have been sorted out in the courts, I will not put out any results no matter what pressure I am put under," Nana Devdariani, who chairs the commission, told the AFP news agency.

These people are demanding only one right - to live in a human way, not to put this country in the hands of robbers and bandits Mikhail Saakashvili, opposition leader

Before the suspension of the count, official interim figures showed that pro-government parties were holding the lead in the ballot, which observers say suffered spectacular irregularities.

The BBC's Chloe Arnold in Tbilisi says the real reason most people took to the streets is that they blame Mr Shevardnadze's government for a sharp decline in living standards since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Culmination of protests

The crowd was smaller overnight, but people started returning on Sunday morning to swell the numbers.

The state chancellery is still blocked off by army in full riot gear.

When the president drove up to the parliament on Sunday morning, the crowd shouted at him to go away.

Shevardnadze's 'failure to deliver'

He spoke briefly to Nino Burjanadze, speaker of the parliament and one of the main opposition leaders, before leaving.

Mr Shevardnadze has still given no indication whether he will consider stepping down.

Mikhail Saakashvili, who leads the opposition National Movement party, appealed to the authorities on Saturday not to use force.

"Today is a peaceful demonstration so that people can defend their votes and their rights," he said in a pre-recorded television address.

"These people are demanding only one right - to live in a human way, not to put this country in the hands of robbers and bandits," Mr Saakashvili added.

Hundreds of troops and riot police were deployed in Tbilisi, amid fears that the stand-off could again turn violent.

INTERIM RESULTS Revival: 21.5% For a New Georgia: 20.7% National Movement: 18.9% Democrats: 7.7%

On Friday, two people were injured in the western town of Zugdidi after a group of up to 50 men opened fire at anti-government rally.

A spokesman for Georgia's ministry of internal affairs warned that police were ready to use weapons if the rally turned violent.

President's plea

On Friday, Mr Shevardnadze went live on television to appeal for calm.

In an emotional address, he told the opposition he was ready for dialogue, warning that a stand-off could lead to civil war.

"I call on people not to get dragged into confrontation because it is only one step from confrontation to civil war," Mr Shevardnadze said.

Gunmen shot at an opposition flag on Friday

Latest figures - based on 80% of the votes counted - show that a regional party which supports Mr Shevardnadze has made a very strong showing, sharing the lead with his bloc.

The electoral commission said the Revival Party, run by Ajaria regional leader Aslan Abashidze, was ahead with 21.5% of the vote.

Mr Shevardnadze's For A New Georgia followed closely behind with 20.7% and the National Movement bloc with 18.9%

The results contrast with exit polls showing popular support for opposition blocs.