Affrontement à Tbilisi – 24 mai 2011

Georgia says policeman dies after protest clashes

ca.reuters.com

Wed May 25, 2011

TBILISI (Reuters) – Georgian riot police clashed with several hundred protesters demanding the resignation of President Mikheil Saakashvili on Thursday, and the government said a policeman died after being hit by a vehicle.

Riot police used teargas, water cannon and rubber bullets to disperse protesters in torrential rain. Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said 19 people, including some police, were hospitalized with minor injuries.

He said the policeman who died was hit by a vehicle in a convoy of cars driving away from the protest, one of which was carrying opposition leader Nino Burjanadze.

« Burjanadze and her husband were rushing to leave the scene in a convoy of five jeeps. One of the vehicles from their convoy hit a policemen who later died in hospital, » he said.

Burjanadze, a former Saakashvili ally who has vowed to lead a peaceful revolution against him, could not be reached for immediate comment but told a television station the opposition would continue fighting to oust the 43-year-old leader. Read more…