Close U.S. ally Georgia descends into chaos

[Scurrilous]

Source: Reuters

<snip>

"U.S. ally Georgia descended into chaos on Wednesday as riot police fought pitched battles with demonstrators, special forces stormed an opposition TV station and President Mikhail Saakashvili blamed Russia for the crisis.

Saakashvili announced he was expelling three Russian diplomats from Georgia and withdrawing his ambassador from Moscow, claiming he had evidence that Russian intelligence was behind six days of mass protests.

"We cannot let our country become the stage for dirty geo-political escapades by other countries," he said in a television broadcast. "Our democracy needs a firm hand of the authorities."

Shortly after his remarks, the main opposition television station Imedi said it had been stormed by Georgian special forces and went off the air. Imedi had been broadcasting extensive coverage of the opposition demonstrations."

Read more: http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-11-07T181514Z_01_L07393735_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-GEORGIA-PROTESTS-COL.XML&archived=False

[underpants]

1. I knew this would happen when Atlanta ran out of water

Okay sorry I apologize for the really dumb joke

Okay now I am getting scared Condi is inept to start with now she may actually be called upon to do something and that clearly is not why she is there.

[izquierdista]

2. Saakashvili has lost it

ВЕСТИ news showed a long clip of him in their coverage of the demonstrations and he really looked like he had gone over the edge. The only thing propping him up are the 'authorities' with their water cannons. It's only a matter of time before they decide he is a raving lunatic and cart him off to the asylum. :crazy: :crazy:

[Joanne98]

3. What are they protesting about? The article doesn't say!

[Scurrilous]

4. Thousands protest in Georgia

<snip>

"Up to 70,000 people have protested in Georgia against President Mikhail Saakashvili, demanding early elections. This is the biggest show of unrest since the peaceful revolution that swept him to power four years ago.

Opposition supporters gathered in front of the parliament and along main avenues of the capital Tbilisi.

One of the leaders of the opposition bloc, Shalva Natelashvili, said they want a government to serve its people rather than vice versa.

Protesters vowed to stay on the streets until the government met their demands for early elections, changes in polling rules and the release of what they term political prisoners."

http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/1102/georgia.html

[Progressive Friend]

5. The West was so thrilled and overjoyed when Saakashvili won 97% of the vote

Now the West acts "surprised" when he declares a state of emergency after days of protests against his corrupt, brutal rule.

[Eugene]

6. Georgia declares emergency after street battles

Source: Reuters

Georgia declares emergency after street battles
Wed Nov 7, 2007 4:40pm EST

By Margarita Antidze and Niko Mchedlishvili

TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgian President Mikhail
Saakashvili on Wednesday declared a 15-day
countrywide state of emergency after sending
in riot police to battle protestors and special
forces stormed a leading opposition TV station.

Saakashvili, facing his worst political crisis
since coming to power in 2003, blamed Russia
for stirring up civil strife after riot police
clashed with protestors in Tbilisi calling for
his resignation.

Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said authorities
had prevented a coup. Economic Development
Minister Georgy Arveladze said that all
independent television news programs would be
stopped during the 15-day state of emergency.

Riot police used tear gas and water cannon on
unarmed demonstrators. Special forces troops
wielding automatic weapons stormed the country's
main opposition television channel, Imedi, which
was then taken off air.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL0739373520071107