Voting is underway in Georgia in parliamentary polls that are being overshadowed by fears of political unrest and rising tensions with Russia.

- 21 / 05 / 2008 11:56

Voting is underway in Georgia in parliamentary polls that are being overshadowed by fears of political unrest and rising tensions with Russia.

The vote is expected to re-elect President Mikhail Saakashvili's ruling United National Movement. Some opposition leaders have said they will start a "people's rebellion" if polls are seen to be falsified.

Georgia has also been embroiled in an increasingly bitter row with Russia over breakaway Georgian regions.

The United National Movement has promised economic development and more jobs but the government needs international support if it is going to create the European-style prosperity it wants, says the BBC's Matthew Collin in the capital, Tbilisi.

Opposition allegations

The election is being seen as a test of Georgia's commitment to democracy under the pro-Western Saakashvili.

On the eve of voting, he urged Georgians to remain united because "our enemy wants [the election] to turn into turmoil and internal confrontation".

He was swept to power in 2003's "Rose Revolution" but his democratic credentials were tarnished when he sent in riot troops to quell opposition protests last year.

He resigned as president in November 2007 in order to run for office again after a series of anti-government demonstrations forced him to call a snap election for 5 January 2008.

The opposition has alleged that the vote was rigged and have threatened mass protests if the parliamentary election is falsified.

Nato has held out to Georgia the prospect of eventual membership in the bloc but said it was looking for "free and fair parliamentary elections" and would review the membership issue later this year.

Georgia's moves to join Nato have angered neighbouring Russia, which has increased its support of the breakaway Abkhazia region.

Georgia's opposition largely shares President Saakashvili's pro-Western leanings but say he has failed to tackle unemployment and corruption.

bbc