Georgia Charges Husband Of Opposition Leader Burjanadze

Georgia today charged the husband of top opposition leader Nino Burjanadze with "creating paramilitary groups and organizing attacks on policemen" during protests in Tbilisi last week.

The Prosecutor-General's Office said it would not seek pre-trial detention for Badri Bitsadze.

It said the case was based on testimony by members of Burjanadze's opposition faction, as well as video and audio materials.

On May 26, riot police broke up a protest against President Mikheil Saakashvili after the opposition rejected the government's offer to move their demonstration to an alternative location.

A policeman and a former officer were killed when a motorcade belonging to the opposition sped away from the clashes.

compiled from agency reports