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Georgian Protesters Want Bush Street Renamed


Former U.S. President George W. Bush, once pretty popular in Georgia, has taken a little hit recently. Several people protested in the Georgian capital yesterday for a street named in his honor to be renamed.

The protest was organized by film director Zaza Svanidze, who said "our government is the outcome of a U.S. foreign policy project -- a 'colored revolution' -- that has brought nothing positive to our country."

Saakashvili came to power in 2004 after the ousting of President Eduard Shevardnadze in what was called the Rose Revolution, one of several revolutions that occurred in former Soviet republics that were termed "colored revolutions."

The street, which leads from Tbilisi international airport to the city center, was named in honor of Bush in September 2005, several months after he made a prominent visit to Georgia. The street was previously called Melaani Drive.

Protesters unfurled a banner that showed a picture of Bush together with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili with a black line through it.

-- Georgian Service

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