Tens of thousands of Georgians took to the streets of Tbilisi on Monday to protest against Moscow's recognition of the independence of two breakaway Georgian regions.
Demonstrators formed a "human chain" that snaked down Rustavili Avenue, the city's main thoroughfare. Many of them waved the red-and-white Georgian flags and flags of the European Union (EU) and NATO, whose membership Tbilisi is seeking -- and shouted slogans against Russian backing for the two regions, South Ossetiaand Abkhazia.
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili also took part in the rally and joined hands with other demonstrators at Freedom Square to form the "human chain."
Local media reports said similar rallies were held across Georgia, a former Soviet republic in the Caucasus.
The demonstrations came as leaders of the 27-nation EU met in Brussels for an emergency summit on the Georgian conflict and the bloc's relations with Russia.
EU leaders are expected to reiterate their condemnation of Russia's actions and send a "clear message" of support for Georgia by pledging aid, as well as a free trade agreement and an easier visa regime for Georgians.
Moscow last week recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states after a military conflict with Georgia in early August.
The conflict ended with a ceasefire agreement between Tbilisi and Moscow brokered by France.
At the summit, the EU is unlikely to impose sanctions against Russia, although some eastern European members like Poland have strongly pushed for punitive measures.
While Britain has urged a total reassessment of the EU's ties with Moscow, two other EU heavyweights -- Germany and France -- prefer dialogue with Russia, a major energy supplier and important trading partner of the bloc.
In a show of support for Tbilisi, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney will visit Georgia this week as part of his four-nation tour that also includes stops in Azerbaijan and Ukraine, two other former Soviet republics.
Source:Xinhua
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