Georgian police forces disperse protesters in central Tbilisi

Georgian special task police forces dispersed protesters, who gathered near the Parliament building in downtown Tbilisi, using water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets.

Wednesday was the fifth day of mass protests in Tbilisi with people calling for President Mikheil Saakashvili to resign.

The People’s Assembly opposition party notified earlier the city authorities that the peaceful protests at the Rustaveli Avenue near the Parliament would continue until Wednesday midnight, however, protesters decided to stay after that time.

Following the last warning to abandon the Rustaveli Avenue, the authorities ordered special task police forces to disperse the crowds.

There is no information on casualties as of yet, but several ambulances were seen rushing to the place of the incident.

Following the attack, the protesters changed their location and are currently gathered at Tbilisi’s central Freedom Square.

Saakashvili was elected president by a landslide in 2004 after the Rose Revolution, but his popularity has waned since a series of corruption scandals in 2007 and the destructive 2008 war with Russia.

TBILISI, May 26 (RIA Novosti)

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