In pictures: Georgian protests

Thousands of opposition supporters in Georgia gathered in a square in the snowbound capital Tbilisi on Sunday to protest against what they said was a rigged presidential election.

Opposition leader Levan Gachechiladze, pictured, told the rally that he would not allow President Mikhail Saakashvili to "steal the election".

However, observers from the OSCE and Council of Europe said they saw very little wrong with the election, which they said was democratic and whose outcome should be respected.

Earlier, supporters of President Saakashvili celebrated as they heard that exit polls suggested he had won the election - and possibly by enough to avoid a second round.

President Saakashvili came to power in the bloodless "Rose Revolution" of 2003, but since then critics have accused him of an authoritarian streak.

He has also opened up a rift with Moscow, leading his former Soviet republic firmly towards accommodation with the West.

Back

1 2 3 4 5 6

Next