Georgia MPs to sanction clampdown

Georgia's parliament is due to approve a 15-day state of emergency called by President Mikhail Saakashvili later today.

Georgia's parliament is due to approve a 15-day state of emergency called by President Mikhail Saakashvili later today.

Ignoring calls from the United States and the opposition to lift the curbs, deputy speaker Mikhail Machavariani said the move was needed because Russian intelligence services were meddling in Georgian affairs.

Mr Machavariani said: "We have a lot of information that Russian intelligence services are interfering in Georgian affairs. We want to examine this information not to allow them to organise new disturbances."

The emergency provisions, which ban large meetings and severely restricts free media, are expected to come before the parliament at around noon Irish time.

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Mr Saakashvili imposed a state of emergency on Wednesday night after riot police crushed a six-day opposition protest calling for his resignation.

He said Russian spies had stirred the unrest and that emergency measures were needed to prevent a coup.

Russia and Georgian opposition leaders have dismissed the allegations as an attempt to distract attention from Georgia's domestic problems and Mr Saakashvili's failings.