Q&A: Georgia's political crisis

Troops have been deployed to keep protesters off the streets

Georgia is in the grip of its most serious political crisis since the 2003 "Rose Revolution" that brought pro-Western Mikhail Saakashvili to power.

A week of anti-government protests in the capital Tbilisi prompted President Saakashvili to impose a state of emergency on 7 November.

What does the state of emergency mean for Georgia?

Riot police used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon to disperse thousands of protesters on 7 November and Mr Saakashvili imposed a 15-day period of special measures. These included a ban on public rallies and the muzzling of opposition media. Only the official media were allowed to broadcast.

But on 8 November he announced that the measures would be lifted in the coming days "because the situation in Georgia is quickly stabilising".

The UN, Nato and Russia had earlier criticised the imposition of a state of emergency.

What brought Georgia to this point?

The spate of opposition rallies was triggered by the arrest of Irakli Okruashvili, a former ally of Mr Saakashvili who was sacked as defence minister in November 2006.

He accused the president of corruption and of demanding the murder of a political opponent. Mr Okruashvili retracted his allegations after his arrest, but now says he was forced to do so by the Georgian authorities. He was granted bail and went abroad.

Opposition demonstrators in late September had called for Mr Okruashvili's release. In the past week, they have been calling on President Saakashvili to step down and to hold presidential and parliamentary elections earlier than autumn 2008. They accuse his administration of corruption, while he accuses Russian "special services" of stirring up trouble in Georgia.

He has now pledged to hold a referendum, at the same time as the January presidential vote, on whether to bring the parliamentary election forward to the spring.

How popular is President Saakashvili?

Mr Saakashvili has retained much of his popular appeal over the past four years, but his ratings have taken a hit in recent months. He came to power promising to root out corruption and introduce market reforms to bring prosperity to a country still suffering from Soviet-era hardships.

Disaffected Georgians who lost their jobs as a result of economic reforms form a support base for the opposition. Poverty remains widespread.

A Russian trade embargo in the past year has aggravated the economic problems, and led to further discontent among Georgians. But those who have an interest in Georgia's economic liberalisation continue to back the president.

How popular is the opposition?

While Mr Saakashvili has been in power, the opposition has been largely fragmented. But 10 opposition parties and movements have pooled their resources and formed an alliance, the National Council. It has orchestrated the recent mass protests.

It may be too early to gauge the strength of support for the new alliance, but its organisers will have to find a way to manage the competing agendas of its various members, some of whom have sharply opposing views on key issues such as policy towards Russia.

Why is instability in Georgia a concern for the West?

Mr Saakashvili, a US-educated lawyer, has cultivated close ties with Washington and has repeatedly expressed his aspirations for Georgia to join Nato and the EU. Western governments have encouraged Georgia's fledgling democracy and market economy.

Georgia's proximity to Iraq, Iran and Turkey makes it strategically important for the US. A key oil export pipeline from the Caspian Sea also runs through Georgia. Historically the Caucasus has been a region of intense rivalry between Russia, Turkey and Western powers.

Is Russia involved in the unrest?

Mr Saakashvili has directly blamed Russia, accusing Russian agents of stirring up the opposition.

Georgia expelled three Russian embassy officials on 7 November and Russia responded by expelling three Georgian diplomats.

Russia has dismissed Mr Saakashvili's allegations, condemning them as a "hostile move". It has accused the Georgian authorities of human rights violations.

Georgian-Russian relations have deteriorated during Mr Saakashvili's presidency.

Russia has boycotted Georgian wine and fruit exports, while Georgia accuses Russia of waging "economic warfare". Georgia's detention of four Russian army officers on spying charges in 2006 was followed by Russia's expulsion of hundreds of Georgian nationals.

Separatists in the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia look to Moscow for support.