Georgia’s highest court today invalidated a fraud-tainted parliamentary vote that sparked the peaceful removal of President Eduard Shevardnadze, leaving the old parliament in place until new elections.

GEORGIA’S new interim president met security officials and told a key minister to quit yesterday after a “velvet revolution” toppled Eduard Shevardnadze.

Georgia’s interim president, opposition leader Nino Burdzhanadze, pledged today to hold elections within 45 days and called on security services to restore order after a wave of protest swept long-time President Eduard Shevardnadze out of power.

Georgia’s interim president pledged today to hold elections in 45 days and called on police and security services to restore order after a wave of protest swept longtime President Eduard Shevardnadze out of power.

Georgian president Eduard Shevardnadze was swept out of power by a wave of opposition, stepping aside without bloodshed after a decade of mounting discontent and three weeks of protests over parliamentary elections his critics said highlighted the corruption that has plagued the former Soviet republic during his reign.

GEORGIAN President Eduard Shevardnadze resigned yesterday, after weeks of protests forced the man who helped end the Cold War to step down.

Launching fireworks and champagne corks into the air, thousands of Georgians revelled today in the resignation of President Eduard Shevardnadze in boisterous street celebrations in the capital Tbilisi, marking what many called a “holiday of freedom.”

Georgia President Eduard Shevardnadze, under increasing pressure for weeks over fraud in parliamentary elections, announced his resignation on Georgian television today.

Protest leader Mikhail Saakashvili announced Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze’s resignation today.

Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze was signing his resignation papers, an opposition figure told Georgian television today.

A special European Union envoy was travelling to Tblisi today to encourage all sides in the protests in the Georgian capital to abstain from violence, the Italian foreign ministry said.

Fears were growing today that the political crisis in Georgia could lead to bloodshed after protesters stormed the parliament, demanding the resignation of the president.

Opposition supporters broke into Georgia’s Parliament today, scuffling with lawmakers and forcing President Eduard Shevardnadze to flee as thousands of protesters outside demanded his resignation.

The opposition leader Mikhail Saakashvili and his supporters stormed into the Georgian parliament today, interrupting Eduard Shevardnadze’s speech.