TBILISI, Nov 8: Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili called snap presidential polls on Thursday and promised to lift emergency rule soon, as troops patrolled Tbilisi following clashes between security forces and anti-government protestors.

“I took the decision that Georgian presidential elections will be held January 5,” Saakashvili said in a televised address to the nation.

Presidential elections had been due late next year.

“You wanted elections early. Have them even earlier,” Saakashvili said in a jibe at his opponents.

The pro-Western leader has come under a barrage of international criticism since imposing a 15-day state of emergency in the wake of Wednesday’s clashes, when police used rubber bullets and tear gas against demonstrators demanding Saakashvili’s resignation.

Troops kept guard in Tbilisi on Thursday and television stations ceased to broadcast news, while demonstrations were banned.

Saakashvili said that the emergency rule could end soon, but did not specify when.

“The situation has stabilised faster than we expected. We are lifting the state of emergency,” he said, without specifying a date.

Saakashvili repeated allegations that Russia was fomenting unrest in Georgia and he defended the use of force, describing Wednesday’s protests as “an attack on Georgian democracy.”

In a concession to protestors — who also wanted parliamentary elections moved from late next year to the spring — Saakashvili promised that the date would be decided in a referendum. He did not say when the referendum would take place.

Calling an early presidential election appeared to be Saakashvili’s gamble to save his presidency, but one opposition leader, Tina Khidasheli of the Republican Party, said he would not survive.

“Saakashvili has no chances to be re-elected.... Saakashvili is done, he’s over — there’s no doubt about it,” she said.

The political crisis in Georgia has led to a sharp increase in tensions with neighbouring Russia, which ruled Georgia for two centuries and is seen by most Georgians as undermining its post-Soviet independence.

Georgia announced it was expelling three diplomats on spying charges and Russia responded on Thursday by expelling three Georgian diplomats from Moscow.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said Georgia was teetering on the brink of “a serious human rights crisis.” Nato, which has infuriated Russia by making Georgia a candidate member, condemned the violence and the emergency measures.

“The imposition of emergency rule, and the closure of media outlets in Georgia ... are of particular concern and not in line with Euro-Atlantic values,” Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said in a statement.

France also said the violence was “unacceptable.” The United States, which is Saakashvili’s main outside backer, called on Wednesday for “constructive dialogue” between the government and opposition, while EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, said “political differences should be resolved within the democratic institutions.”

Holly Cartner, from the New York-based Human Rights Watch organisation, said “the government does not have a carte blanche to restrict fundamental freedoms just because it is in crisis.” About 200 troops were visible Thursday in central Tbilisi, where police had fought vicious street battles with protestors the day before.

The city was quieter than usual, but shops and transport were mostly functioning. The main Rustaveli Avenue was partly closed.

The only broadcaster permitted to give news was the state-owned channel.

The private pro-opposition Imedi channel was entirely shut down late on Wednesday.

Georgia’s opposition urged supporters not to defy the heavily armed security forces. “We have told everybody to calm down,” Davit Usupashvili, of the opposition Republic Party said.

The Health Ministry said 589 people sought medical help during Wednesday’s clashes, which started when police tried to break up a six-day-old protest rally. Twenty people remained hospitalised.

Thirty two people were arrested, police said.—AFP