Over 50 thousand protesters demand Saakashvili resignationApril 9, 2009 - 21:15 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Tens of thousands of Georgian opposition supporters have taken to the streets of the capital, Tbilisi, pressing for the resignation of President Mikheil Saakashvili.Former close allies of the president addressed a large rally near Georgia's parliament Thursday as protesters rallied in the capital and in other cities. The protesters said they are giving Mr. Saakashvili 24 hours to respond to their demands before announcing further action. Georgia's former U.N. ambassador, Irakli Alasania, called the rally a demonstration of unity in demanding change through peaceful means. Former parliament speaker Nino Burdjanadze apologized to the crowd for supporting the president after police used rubber bullets to break up a 2007 opposition rally. Opposition leaders accuse Mr. Saakashvili of being authoritarian and of leading the country into a disastrous war with Russia last year, VOA News reports. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |