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Negotiations falter as opposition coalition promises new mass protests

By Christina Tashkevich
Tuesday, November 20
Koba Davitashvili delivers the opposition's demands
The opposition coalition say they are breaking off dialogue with the government until Imedi TV is back on air.

Key opposition leaders were to meet Speaker of Parliament Nino Burjanadze Monday evening, but instead announced at a press conference earlier in the day that talks are off—and they are planning another large-scale rally on November 25 to demand that Imedi be allowed to broadcast again.

The state’s decision to suspend Imedi TV’s broadcast license for three months was made public on Friday. Authorities say the television station, founded by tycoon and presidential candidate Badri Patarkatsishvili and now owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, was airing statements on November 7 inciting protestors to overthrow the government.

People’s Party leader Koba Davitashvili, speaking at the Monday briefing outside City Hall, said that the November 25 demonstration would start in Rike and end near parliament.

Rike was the site of the final, and most forcefully dispersed, anti-government rally on November 7.

“I call on all the citizens of our country to gather at Rike, to show the authorities that we have not given up our struggle,” Davitashvili declared.

On Tuesday, opposition leaders said, they will meet with Imedi TV journalists.

After that, they added, the coalition will get their campaign rolling by meeting with the public to promote their candidate for president, independent MP and former businessman Levan Gachechiladze.

If elected, Gachechiladze promises, he will strip the presidency of its power and resign. Running mate Salome Zourabichvili, as prime minister, would presumably lead the government until the next parliamentary elections.

Gachechiladze will run against incumbent Mikheil Saakashvili, as well as Imedi TV founder Badri Patarkatsishvili, former Enron economist Gia Maisashvili, New Rights leader Davit Gamkrelidze and the Labor Party’s Shalva Natelashvili.

Also on Monday, Natelashvili officially announced his candidacy after being nominated last week by his party colleagues.

“I will do my best to ensure that the country finally bids farewell to darkness, violence, hunger and poverty. I will do my best to ensure that our country returns to its historical roots,” online news source civil.ge quotes Natelashvili as saying.