Coup d'état in georiga

[denoir 0]

Political chaos grips Georgia [bBC]

Quote[/b] ]Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze has declared a state of emergency after opposition forces seized parliament.

He refused to resign and said the armed forces would now take over after what he called a coup attempt.

Crowds led by main opposition leader Mikhail Saakashvili stormed the parliament building after weeks of protests over disputed elections.

Nino Burjanadze, outgoing speaker of parliament, says she has become interim president of the ex-Soviet state.

But the situation is confused, with Mr Saakashvili appearing to suggest that Mr Shevardnadze could stay on - but only if he called early presidential elections.

"If he announces... some transitional period for new presidential elections, that's fine," he told CNN.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is sending his Foreign Minister, Igor Ivanov, to Georgia.

Officials in Moscow say Mr Putin is carrying out urgent consultations with leaders of the former Soviet republics.

'Civil war'

Mr Shevardnadze had been addressing the first session of parliament in the capital Tbilisi after the victory of his party and its allies in 2 November elections, which were declared fraudulent by international observers

As opposition supporters stormed the building, he was bundled away by his bodyguards.

Opposition supporters later entered the building housing the office of the president.

The country's armed forces have not intervened and it is unclear whether they will enforce a state of emergency.

However, Reuters news agency says troops have taken up position around the interior ministry - one of the government departments tasked with enforcing the state of emergency.

Speaking to journalists, Mr Shevardnadze said: "With such people around, a civil war may start tomorrow...

"If I show weakness now, people will no longer forgive me."

Ms Burjanadze, leader of another opposition group, announced that she had assumed the powers of the president during a speech broadcast live by Georgian television.

"Until the issue of the president's capacity is finally resolved and until the date of the new presidential and parliamentary elections is fixed, I have to assume upon myself those functions for which I am responsible by the constitution," she said.

Hail of books

Hundreds of opposition supporters drove Mr Shevardnadze's supporters from parliament under a hail of books and pens after a number of fist-fights.

Live television pictures showed scenes reminiscent of the revolutions that toppled the communist governments of Eastern Europe more than a decade ago.

Opposition leaders made speeches inside the building after taking control.

"The velvet revolution has taken place in Georgia," Mr Saakashvili said, as the hall applauded him. "We are against violence."

Mr Shevardnadze, the former Soviet foreign minister, has clung to power through war, civil unrest and economic crisis in his country.

He had been under pressure to resign for several weeks before Saturday's dramatic events.

Mr Saakashvili had earlier vowed to "trample" the country's leadership as he led opposition activists up to the gates in front of Mr Shevardnadze's offices and called for the president to step down.

On Friday, the United States called on Georgia's government to conduct an independent investigation into the disputed election results.

State department spokesman Adam Ereli said the election results reflected "massive vote fraud" in some regions and "do not accurately reflect the will of the Georgian people".

The obvious question now is who the military will support. If they choose to support Shevardnadze, it could get nasty.

[turms 0]

The best thing to do now, would be sending european observers/troops in there to settle the things and to investigate the votes, before any civilwar will brake up. I know it isnt that simple how i make it sound, but fast reaction would be in place right now.

[Acecombat 0]

The opposition was obviously playing a lot of Ghost recon me thinks

Seriously though i hope order is restored , such coup attempts usually turn bloody...

[Gollum1 0]

Wow, this came as a surprise.

[turms 0]

Wow, this came as a surprise.

Its been on the news about a week or so.

[Major Gripe 0]

The best thing to do now, would be sending european observers/troops in there to settle the things and to investigate the votes, before any civilwar will brake up. I know it isnt that simple how i make it sound, but fast reaction would be in place right now.

The EU couldn't spell rapid reaction if it tried!! They'll rattle a few sabres then leave the Georgians to kill each other or resolve the issue internally.

[turms 0]

The best thing to do now, would be sending european observers/troops in there to settle the things and to investigate the votes, before any civilwar will brake up. I know it isnt that simple how i make it sound, but fast reaction would be in place right now.

The EU couldn't spell rapid reaction if it tried!! They'll rattle a few sabres then leave the Georgians to kill each other or resolve the issue internally.  

how do you reason that? and note that i wasnt talking about EU.

[-33ker 0]

AFAIK there already are UN troops in Georgia... Germans too.

[hellfish6 7]

It's not a coup d'etat, Denoir, it's an uprising.

[ralphwiggum 6]

It's not a coup d'etat, Denoir, it's an uprising.  

hellfish6, you gotta understand that denoir has this thing for the dictators

[denoir 0]

It's not a coup d'etat, Denoir, it's an uprising.  

I don't see a difference if a few people or a crowd overthrows a government, but perhaps you are right.

Anyway for those suggesting EU troops.. sweet dreams. There is a little country called Russia that for some reason cares what happens in it's back yard. If anybody is going to send troops (and I doubt anybody will), it will be Russia.

[turms 0]

Russian troops would hurt georgian independency/sovereignity more than european troops would.And i doupt that US would have resources/willinless to interveign in a possible upcoming conflict,especially so near to russian borders.

[bn880 5]

Americans should take notes, that is how you get rid of a very bad leader.

[drewb99 0]

Hmm, kinda reminds me of Splinter Cell

[-33ker 0]

Russian troops would hurt georgian independency/sovereignity more than european troops would.And i doupt that US would have resources/willinless to interveign in a possible upcoming conflict,especially so near to russian borders.

I've read somewhere that the USA already have a presence in the Caucasus because they're interrested in the oil there...

[Acecombat 0]

Someone Send Bush a copy of GR asap  

That should stir him up and maybe he might use his gun first and ask later theory and send AA in there...

BTW: US are pretty crummy with Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan i tink they even had troops there statione during the Afghan war

[The Frenchman 0]

Hmm, kinda reminds me of Splinter Cell

Me also, a combination of Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell. Also parts in Splinter Cell are similar of what happened in Iraq.

[ZIKAN 0]

Its going to be a big worry to those companies/countires who have any interests with the new Caspian Sea pipeline which is apparently going to be placed there...I wonder who they could be?

[Mister 5 0]

I've read somewhere that the USA already have a presence in the Caucasus because they're interrested in the oil there...

I wouldn't know about that, but there are about one hundred US troops in Georgia tasked with training Georgian forces counterterror tactics. They've been their for about a year, methinks.

[turms 0]

There are also russian troops in georgia, the foreign minister of Russia just told that the russian troops in georgia would not react in anyway to the situation..

[Acecombat 0]

There are also russian troops in georgia, the foreign minister of Russia just told that the russian troops in georgia would not react in anyway to the situation..

Someone should try sending the US soldiers there a copy of CWC and send russians a copy of RED hammer , and the georgians resistance

Then wait and see what happens....

[hellfish6 7]

US Special Forces have been training the Georgians so that they can protect the pipeline. I think they may still be over there.

[killagee 0]

It's not a coup d'etat, Denoir, it's an uprising.

I don't see a difference if a few people or a crowd overthrows a government, but perhaps you are right.

Anyway for those suggesting EU troops.. sweet dreams. There is a little country called Russia that for some reason cares what happens in it's back yard. If anybody is going to send troops (and I doubt anybody will), it will be Russia.

The thought of Russian Troops turning up scares the heck out of me...

America has a vested interest in this country, since it was sponsoring the Encumbent Govt who agreed to subsidise the new Pipeline that would bring the oil out thru turkey rather than to russia, Where as the opposition vowed to stop it, since the Georgians get a better deal on their oil trading it in rubles (which is one screwed up currency) instead of $US dollars (which is as strong as a rock).

Remember what happened to the last country that tried to trade their oil in a non-US currency? (Yes it was Iraq. Plan to deal in the Euro put forward in 1997, Finalised in May 2001...)

I would prefer to see the UN enforce new Fair Elections , like they did in East Timor, Rwanda and a few other african countries. Worked well there, since the Troops on the ground ensure no Intimadation and the Process in highly monitored...

[-33ker 0]

I think It was a good uprising, Shewardnadse cheated in the elections and it was a good reason to drive him out of office. It was also quite fair that he didn't order the army to attack the opposition.

IMO it was just performed democracy. In fact the americans could learn something there...

[theavonlady 2]

It's not over yet.

While there are cracks in the military siding with the opposition, Shevardnadse last served an ultimatum. If he goes through with it, things could get very ugly.

Damn! This is a great campaign storyline!