Police Disperse Protesters in Batumi ? Local Reporter

Police dispersed a small group of students in Batumi, who were planning to protest outside the local university on November 8, a Batumi-based journalist told Civil.Ge  by phone.

?Students started to gather outside the university at about 11 am [local time]. Riot police were deployed immediately and used tear gas. Several students were beaten,? Eter Turadze, the editor of the local newspaper Batumelebi said.

President Saakashvili imposed emergency rule late on November 7 throughout the country, banning demonstrations, strikes and the dissemination of information.

Turadze said that the students had decided to hold a rally in Batumi following the dispersal of protesters by police in Tbilisi on November 7. ?There was an attempt by activists from the Republican and People?s opposition parties to join the rally but the students said they did not want any political group to be affiliated with their protest,? she said.

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