GEORGIA:Georgia was gripped by its most serious political crisis since the 2003 Rose Revolution last night as the president declared a state of emergency.
The presidential decree was issued after security forces dispersed protesters outside parliament in Tibilisi with tear-gas and took an opposition TV station off air.
At least 250 people were treated in hospital after riot police fired the gas and water cannons on crowds of demonstrators calling for the resignation of President Mikhail Saakashvili, in a sudden escalation after six days of protests.
Last night Mr Saakashvili blamed Moscow for orchestrating the crisis, claiming that Russia's security services had been behind the violent clashes. "Georgia is facing a very serious threat of unrest. High-ranking officials in Russian special services are behind this," he said in a TV address. Georgia has recalled its ambassador to Moscow and will expel Russian embassy staff from Tiblisi, he added. His prime minister, Zurab Nogaideli, said the president had declared a state of emergency. "An attempt to conduct a coup was made, and we had to react to that," he said.
Earlier, riot police burst into the offices of Georgia's pro-opposition TV station Imedi and took it off air - it had been showing interviews with opposition leaders.
Yesterday's protests amount to the gravest political challenge to Mr Saakashvili, a strong US ally and an enthusiast for full Nato membership for his country. Mr Saakashvili was propelled to power in 2003 on the back of a genuine and popular democratic movement.
The protests mark a new low in Georgia's dismal relations with neighbouring Russia. Russia's foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, dismissed claims that Moscow was covertly trying to undermine the Georgian government as a "farce". The foreign ministry said claims that the country was involved in unrest in Georgia were an "irresponsible provocation" and promised an "adequate response" to the expulsion of diplomats.
In the clashes in Tiblisi, police beat several protesters and forced others to flee as tear-gas enveloped the area outside the parliament building. Clashes continued after protesters regrouped in the old town. TV footage showed chaotic scenes as anti-government protesters battled police holding riot shields.
"They gassed us. We are feeling terrible. Everyone in our office is suffering. Several have gone to hospital," Nino Kevlishvili, a spokeswoman for the opposition Republican party, said.
Asked whether the Kremlin was behind recent opposition rallies, she said: "You must be joking. Seventy thousand of us turned up last week."
Opposition demonstrators, who began their protests on Friday, are demanding Mr Saakashvili's resignation, Ms Kevlishvili said. They also wanted early elections next year, and are calling for better living conditions.
Last night Mr Saakashvili defended his decision to use force against the demonstrators, who had been attempting to set up an Orange Revolution-style tent city on the doorstep of the Georgian parliament.
"Everyone has the right to express disagreement in a democratic country. But the authorities will never allow destabilisation and chaos," Mr Saakashvili said.
The crisis was triggered after Georgia's former defence minister Irakli Okruashvili accused Mr Saakashvili of corruption and of plotting to murder a prominent Georgian businessman.
However, he later retracted his allegations - only to repeat them this week after fleeing to Germany.
Despite the tension it was unclear how much support the opposition had in the rest of the country. Analysts yesterday said the protests were a symptom of growing disillusionment with Mr Saakashvili, who despite reforms has left much of the population frustrated. Critics also accuse him of authoritarianism.
"After the Rose Revolution things were going rather steadily and the country had established a solid partnership with the west," Zaza Gachechiladze, a political analyst and editor in chief of the Georgian Messenger said.
"The problem is that promises have not been fulfilled."