Report: Georgia opposition sets talks' ultimatum
9 hours ago
TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — A Georgian news report said an opposition leader demanded that President Mikhail Saakashvili agree to a face-to-face meeting by Sunday evening to avoid an escalation between the two sides.
Conservative party leader Kakha Kukava said failure by Saakashvili's government to initiate negotiations will aggravate an already tense situation, the Georgia Online news site reported.
"We will wait for an answer from Saakashvili until 5 p.m. (1300 GMT, 9 a.m. EDT) this evening, after which the opposition will take a decision on further action," Kukava was quoted as saying.
But opposition leader Nino Burdzhanadze, the former parliamentary speaker, was less categorical. She said the opposition would only consider more "severe" protest actions if they received no answer from the president by Monday.
Both sides agreed to talks after a clash between police and opposition protesters injured dozens Wednesday and threatened to plunge the country into violence. Negotiations ended without an agreement on a direct meeting with Saakashvili, ensuring the standoff will persist.
More than 10,000 people joined a mass demonstration Saturday in front of the parliament in the capital, Tbilisi, calling for Saakashvili's resignation.
Georgians rallied behind Saakashvili during the war with Russia last August, but his popularity has plummeted in recent months.
Many Georgians hold him responsible for dragging the nation into the war, and also accuse him of trying to silence critics and control the media
No connection, I suppose....
[Update: He agreed.]
Many Georgians hold him responsible for dragging the nation into the war, and also accuse him of trying to silence critics and control the media.
ReplyDeleteYep I know when this happens to me I'm not a happy camper.:)
jo6pac