Georgian leader resigns for poll

Under Georgian law, he would not be allowed to take part in the campaign while serving as president.

Meanwhile tens of thousands of protesters have attended a rally calling for an independent TV station to be allowed back on air.

This is the first major demonstration since anti-government protests were quashed by police earlier this month.

President Saakashvili called the snap poll - due to be held on 5 January - following the week-long protests in early November.

These protests were the largest seen in Georgia since a revolution that brought Mr Saakashvili to power in 2003.

Opposition supporters had called on Mr Saakashvili to resign, accusing him of corruption and authoritarianism.

Mr Saakashvili accused Russia of inciting the recent unrest to oust him. Both Moscow and the opposition in Georgia deny the allegations.

The government imposed a state of emergency for nine days in response to the protests, drawing international criticism of the pro-Western leader.