Georgia Opposition Gathers for 'Peaceful Revolution'

[Socialist Christian]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=586&ncid=586&e=5&u=/nm/20031121/wl_nm/georgia_dc
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TBILISI, Georgia (Reuters) - Thousands of Georgian opposition activists massed in Tbilisi's "Freedom Square" Friday to join their leader in asking troops to stand aside for a "bloodless, velvet revolution" to depose President Eduard Shevardnadze

A few hundred yards away by the Georgian parliament, an equal number of demonstrators stood in support of Shevardnadze, 75, who has vowed not to be pushed from power by protests launched after disputed elections earlier this month.


A buffer zone between the two was set out with buses, troops and police. Both sides appealed for calm when opposition protesters moved closer to the rival demonstration. The rallies passed without incident.


Western powers have called for a peaceful resolution to the unrest in the impoverished former Soviet Caucasus state of 5 million. Trouble could threaten a planned oil pipeline through Georgia from neighboring Azerbaijan to Turkey.