Saakashvili Criticizes Police for Violent Break up of Rally

During his meeting with NGO leaders, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili slammed the Interior Ministry over an ?excessive use of force? employed during the break up of a protest rally in Tbilisi on July 1.

On July 1, Tbilisi riot police dispersed a group of protesters in front of the Tbilisi Municipality who were demanding that the governement make good on their promise to provide these people with apartments. The incident triggered protest by human rights organizations.

?We will not tolerate disorders or obstruction, but excessive use of force is absolutely inadmissible and I have already warned the Interior Ministry regarding this,? Mikheil Saakashvili said.