Georgia launches crackdown after Tbilisi protests

Georgia's prime minister has announced a sweeping crackdown on dissent, accusing demonstrators who tried to storm the presidential palace of aiming to topple his government and blaming the European Union for interference in his country.

- Deborah Cole

Irakli Kobakhidze levelled his allegations a day after protesters attempted to breach the presidential palace as local elections were being held. They were stopped by riot police using pepper spray and water cannon.

"No one will escape responsibility. This includes political responsibility," the Georgian news agency Interpress quoted the prime minister as saying.

Officers detained at least five demonstrators, including two members of the United National Movement, the largest opposition party, and the opera singer turned activist Paata Burchuladze.

Local media cited the health ministry as saying 21 members of the security forces and six demonstrators had been injured in clashes in the centre of Tbilisi.

The South Caucasus country has been in turmoil since Kobakhidze's ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party claimed victory in last year's parliamentary election, which the pro-EU opposition said was stolen. Since then, Tbilisi's talks on joining the bloc have been frozen.