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Georgian lawmakers vote to back emergency rule

Georgian soldiers patrol near the parliament building in central Tbilisi on Thursday. PHOTO: AFP

The Georgian parliament voted yesterday to back President Mikhail Saakashvili's state of emergency order, a move that will keep independent TV news off the air for up to 15 days and possibly stoke fresh criticism of the Georgian leader.

Lawmakers voted 149-0 to support Saakashvili, who handed down the order late on Wednesday after riot police clashed with anti-government protesters in the worst political crisis he has faced since catapulting to power after the 2003 Rose Revolution.

Opposition lawmakers in the 235-seat parliament boycotted yesterday's vote, which came even as Saakashvili pledged to quickly lift the state of emergency.

On Thursday, Saakashvili, who has faced harsh criticism in the West and Russia after police forces forced independent TV channels off the air and attacked journalists, called for early presidential elections to be held on Jan. 5.

That announcement appeared to catch Georgia's fragmented opposition off-guard, and most observers doubt it will be able to mount a serious challenge to Saakashvili.

This week's crackdown on demonstrators and the state of emergency deeply shocked many Georgians. But while his already sliding popularity is likely to take a toll, most observers expect Saakashvili to win a second term.

Saakashvili's popularity has declined in recent years because of his failure to tackle endemic poverty in a nation where the average monthly pension is around US$30. Many have also accused him of sidestepping the rule of law, creating a powerful executive branch and trying to muzzle critics. Official corruption also remains widespread.

Opposition leaders earlier said they would stop street protests as they began discussions to unite around a single candidate.

"The president's speech was equal to resignation," said Salome Zurabishvili, a former foreign minister who now heads Georgia's Way opposition party. parliament.
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