Georgians vote in key elections

Georgians have begun voting in snap presidential elections, in what is seen as a democracy test for the former Soviet republic. President Mikhail Saakashvili called the poll, after suppressing huge opposition protests in November. Georgians vote in key elections The pro-Western leader wants not only to be re-elected but to prove his democratic credentials to his critics. Opposition parties have accused the authorities of preparing to rig the vote. The government denies the charge. Along with the presidential election, Georgians are being asked to vote on whether they should have a parliamentary election in the spring of 2008. "Democracy still alive" Polling stations in the country of some five million people opened at 0400 GMT and will close at 1600 GMT. Hundreds of foreign observers are monitoring the vote. Saakashvili has led the field of seven candidates in opinion polls, but they differ whether he could win an outright majority to avoid a run-off two weeks later. The polls also suggest that Saakashvili's closest rival will be Levan Gachechiladze, the wine businessman and independent MP chosen by the main opposition bloc as their candidate. At a polling station in the capital, Tbilisi, Nodar Zardiashvili, said he had voted for Saakashvili. He told the AFP news agency that he backed the president "because he is doing the right thing by taking the country into Nato and the European Union". Nino Saladze, another voter in the capital, said she was supporting Gachechiladze. "We've had enough of Saakashvili, November was the last straw," she told the AFP. On the eve of the elections, Saakashvili said Georgia was still a democratic pioneer among former Soviet republics, despite the crackdown on the opposition protests in November. He said the move - which also included the imposition of a state of emergency - was unpleasant but necessary in order to prevent the government's violent overthrow. "We have to show the whole world that Georgian democracy is still alive," he told thousands of supporters at a final campaign rally in the capital, Tbilisi. "Smear campaign" Meanwhile, Gachechiladze, who represents nine opposition groups, urged his supporters to be vigilant at polling stations. "What is currently happening in Georgia is not a free election," he said. Gachechiladze also complained that "we cannot use media outlets or promotional means" and that a "smear campaign" was being staged against the opposition in the media. A BBC correspondent in the capital, Tbilisi, says Saakashvili has run a well-funded election campaign, while other candidates have been much less visible. Opposition groups has also accused Saakashvili of authoritarian tendencies and a failure to tackle large-scale social deprivation in Georgia. Strategic location Saakashvili, a US-educated lawyer, came to power after street protests in 2003, nicknamed the Rose Revolution. His first term as president has seen Georgia strengthen its ties with Nato and the European Union. But relations with Moscow have soured and Georgia's economy has been badly hit by a Russian ban on Georgian goods. Georgia's proximity to Iraq, Iran and Turkey makes it strategically important. A key oil export pipeline from the Caspian Sea also runs through it. The West regards Georgia as a key test of Russia's readiness to respect other ex-Soviet states' independence, while Moscow is sensitive to any potential source of instability along its border in the Caucasus.

Georgians vote in key elections

The pro-Western leader wants not only to be re-elected but to prove his democratic credentials to his critics.

Opposition parties have accused the authorities of preparing to rig the vote. The government denies the charge.

Along with the presidential election, Georgians are being asked to vote on whether they should have a parliamentary election in the spring of 2008.

"Democracy still alive"

Polling stations in the country of some five million people opened at 0400 GMT and will close at 1600 GMT. Hundreds of foreign observers are monitoring the vote.

Saakashvili has led the field of seven candidates in opinion polls, but they differ whether he could win an outright majority to avoid a run-off two weeks later.

The polls also suggest that Saakashvili's closest rival will be Levan Gachechiladze, the wine businessman and independent MP chosen by the main opposition bloc as their candidate.

At a polling station in the capital, Tbilisi, Nodar Zardiashvili, said he had voted for Saakashvili.

He told the AFP news agency that he backed the president "because he is doing the right thing by taking the country into Nato and the European Union".

Nino Saladze, another voter in the capital, said she was supporting Gachechiladze.

"We've had enough of Saakashvili, November was the last straw," she told the AFP.

On the eve of the elections, Saakashvili said Georgia was still a democratic pioneer among former Soviet republics, despite the crackdown on the opposition protests in November.

He said the move - which also included the imposition of a state of emergency - was unpleasant but necessary in order to prevent the government's violent overthrow.

"We have to show the whole world that Georgian democracy is still alive," he told thousands of supporters at a final campaign rally in the capital, Tbilisi.

"Smear campaign"

Meanwhile, Gachechiladze, who represents nine opposition groups, urged his supporters to be vigilant at polling stations.

"What is currently happening in Georgia is not a free election," he said.

Gachechiladze also complained that "we cannot use media outlets or promotional means" and that a "smear campaign" was being staged against the opposition in the media.

A BBC correspondent in the capital, Tbilisi, says Saakashvili has run a well-funded election campaign, while other candidates have been much less visible.

Opposition groups has also accused Saakashvili of authoritarian tendencies and a failure to tackle large-scale social deprivation in Georgia.

Strategic location

Saakashvili, a US-educated lawyer, came to power after street protests in 2003, nicknamed the Rose Revolution.

His first term as president has seen Georgia strengthen its ties with Nato and the European Union.

But relations with Moscow have soured and Georgia's economy has been badly hit by a Russian ban on Georgian goods.

Georgia's proximity to Iraq, Iran and Turkey makes it strategically important. A key oil export pipeline from the Caspian Sea also runs through it.

The West regards Georgia as a key test of Russia's readiness to respect other ex-Soviet states' independence, while Moscow is sensitive to any potential source of instability along its border in the Caucasus.