Protesters Marched towards State Chancellery, as Shevardnadze did not Appear

Tens of thousands of protesters marched towards the State Chancellery, demanding Shevardnadze’s resignation.

A term of ultimatum set by the protesters to President Shevardnadze has expired. The President did not come out to the people and still remains in the Parliament building.

The first session of the new Parliament is scheduled for 4 p.m. and the President intends to open it. Mikheil Saakashvili, a key opposition leader, called on the law-enforcement agencies and the internal troops to open the way to the people towards the State Chancellery.

“I call on the internal troops to let the people enter the territory of the State Chancellery to apply to the President from there either to appoint new parliamentary elections or to resign immediately,” Mikheil Saakashvili said.

He called on the protesters to maintain order and calmness. “We have no weapons. The only thing we have is our voice to apply to the President,” Saakashvili added.