Georgian Opposition Movement Launched

Presentation of Georgian Dream movement founder, Bidzina Ivanishvili, in Tbilisi on December 11

Several thousand people have attended the first public meeting of a new movement led by the country's richest man, Bidzina Ivanishvili.

Ivanishvili, leader of the Georgian Dream public movement, told the meeting in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi: "The country's leadership has completely exhausted...and has become the main obstacle for society and state development."

The 55-year-old Ivanishvili has called for the resignation of President Mikheil Saakashvili.

Saakashvili, who swept to power on a wave of street demonstrations in 2003, has been facing popular protests by opponents who accuse him of curbing freedoms.

Reuters