Georgia parliament seized

TBILISI, Georgia – The opposition seized Georgia’s parliament Saturday, chasing out President Eduard Shevardnadze and declaring an interim government as tens of thousands of supporters thronged the streets of the capital. Shevardnadze, backed by his head of police, declared a state of emergency.

Shevardnadze has long claimed that he is key to maintaining stability in the Caucasus region, located on vital oil routes. Georgia’s mountains have provided shelter for insurgents fighting in neighboring Chechnya, and the United States has helped train Georgian military forces to try to uproot them.

Facing a possible confrontation with the army and security forces, the opposition appealed to its supporters in the streets to defend the parliament building.

Opposition leader Nino Burdzhanadze, the speaker of the outgoing parliament, proclaimed herself acting president until early elections that the opposition called to take place in 45 days. She warned Shevardnadze’s government to avoid bloodshed.

The parliament takeover was an exuberant moment for protesters who for days have been demanding the president’s removal over elections that the opposition says were rigged. The United States and other foreign observers also consider the elections fraudulent.

Just as Shevardnadze began speaking in parliament, Saakashvili and hundreds of supporters swarmed through the chamber doors, pushing and shoving lawmakers.

The protesters knocked over tables and chairs. One leaped up on the speaker’s podium, waving a red rose, while another banged the gavel. Later, protesters took over Shevardnadze’s office and burned his chair.

Pro-government lawmakers were thrown out of parliament and Shevardnadze was hustled out of the chamber by bodyguards. “I will not resign,” he vowed outside the building as he boarded a vehicle and was driven off, escorted by troops in riot gear.

He later went on national television, surrounded by uniformed officers of the internal security forces and declared a 30-day state of emergency. “Order will be restored and the criminals will be punished,” he vowed.

Some armored personnel carriers were shown on Georgian television taking up positions in front of Shevardnadze’s residence, but authorities emphasized that they were not going to be used against demonstrators.

This ex-Soviet republic slid into its biggest political crisis in years after the disputed Nov. 2 parliamentary elections.

“About 8 percent to 10 percent of the ballots were invalid,” Shevardnadze said, but added that this should be dealt with in the courts.

The roots of the turmoil lie in the deep economic misery of most of the population and the rampant corruption that has characterized Shevardnadze’s 10-year reign. Respected outside of Georgia for his role in helping to end the Cold War as Soviet Union foreign minister under Mikhail Gorbachev, the 75-year-old Shevardnadze is considered a disappointing relic at home.