Georgia rejects Western pressure to end emergency rule

TBILISI: President Mikheil Saakashvili said a state of emergency would remain in place in Georgia as long as his government deemed necessary, defying Western calls for it to be lifted immediately.

"The state of emergency will be lifted in the very near future, within the next few days," Saakashvili told a meeting of Georgian businessmen shown on state television yesterday.

"Not by somebody's recommendation, but when we find it necessary," he added. "We know better what is good for Georgia in the short- and long-term."        

Saakashvili imposed the 15-day state of emergency, which bans public demonstrations and independent newscasts, after violent clashes on Wednesday between police and anti-government protesters in Tbilisi.

He later called a snap presidential election for January 5, which protestors claimed as a victory for their campaign.

Badri Patarkatsishvili, a prominent Georgian businessman who has financed the opposition, announced he will run for the post -- though he added he would stand aside for any candidate who could unite the opposition.

Earlier, the Georgian authorities said  Patarkatsishvili, who is believed to be out of the country, was suspected of plotting a coup against Saakashvili and was wanted for questioning.

Pressure has been mounting on the normally pro-Western Saakashvili to lift emergency rule.

Matthew Bryza, the US deputy assistant secretary for European and Eurasian affairs, was due to arrive in Tbilisi early Sunday, slightly later then initially planned, said a spokesman for the US embassy.