Saakashvili pledges early elections to defuse crisis

GEORGIA’S pro-Western president said yesterday the country would hold early presidential elections in January to defuse a crisis fuelled by protests against him.

President Mikhail Saakashvili also promised to lift within days the nationwide state of emergency that he had imposed late on Wednesday after a violent crackdown on anti-government protesters, saying “the situation in Georgia is quickly stabilising”.

The election had been due to take place in late 2008, but Saakashvili said it would now be scheduled for January 5 “to receive the trust of the people”.