Georgian opposition moves towards talks

Georgia’s political crisis that has seen weeks of street protests and occasional violence may be easing.

Some opposition leaders say they are ready to discuss the stalemate with the president after a meeting brokered by EU representatives and religious leaders.

It comes after clashes between protesters and police in Tiblisi last night. The disturbances prompted one opposition leader to call for dialogue.

Irakli Alasania said: “The country is really facing a catastrophe and that is why I think that violence should be stopped and this can only be achieved by the meeting of the government and the opposition.”

28 people were injured in yesterday’s unrest. The opposition has been on the streets in the capital for almost a month, demanding President Mikheil Saakashvili resign over his record on democracy and last year’s disastrous war with Russia over breakaway South Ossetia. No date has been set for talks.

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tags: Georgia, Politics