Shevardnadze Offers Talks with Opposition

President Shevardnadze has offered once again to meet opposition leaders to defuse tensions, as protest rally in Tbilisi, demanding Shevardnadze’s resignation, continues.

Eduard Shevardnadze said political opponents who accuse him of rigging the vote were his fellow citizens and he wanted a dialogue with them.

However Mikheil Saakashvili, the opposition leader and the Chairman of Tbilisi City Council, ruled out new talks and said opposition demands had to be met.

Confrontation increased as talks between President Shevardnadze and opposition leaders – Mikheil Saakashvili, Nino Burjanadze and Zurab Zhvania, late on November 9 end without any results.

Round-the-clock protest rally in front of the Parliament continues for the fifth day.