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Up to 10 Georgian protestors agree to end hunger strike

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TBILISI, March 20 (RIA Novosti) - Up to 10 Georgian opposition members protesting against the results of the country's January presidential polls have agreed to end their hunger strike.

The move came after the Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church Ilia II had called on the opposition to call off the hunger strike, which entered its twelfth day on Thursday. He branded it 'non-Christian,' and urged protestors to resume dialogue with the authorities.

"After the patriarch's words, our party [the National Democratic Party] took the decision to give up this form of political struggle and end the hunger strike," the party's press service said.

Twelve of the hunger strikers were hospitalized on Monday.

Meanwhile, the other nine parties and opposition movement groups involved in the hunger strikes have so far declined to comment on the patriarch's request.

There are currently about 60 people on hunger strike outside the parliament in Tbilisi in protest at the presidential polls, which they say were rigged in favor of President Mikheil Saakashvili. They are also opposed to changes to election rules which were adopted by parliament last week prior to parliamentary polls on May 11.

The protesters are also demanding the resignation of Parliamentary Speaker Nino Burdzhanadze and the release of all the people detained during November opposition rallies in Tbilisi.

Georgian authorities have condemned the hunger strike, but have said they are willing to resume dialogue with the opposition.

Georgia was rocked by opposition rallies for six days last November as protestors occupied central Tbilisi demanding Saakashvili's resignation over allegations of corruption and increasing authoritarianism.

The Georgian leader responded by sending in riot police to crack down on protestors on November 7. Over 500 people were injured, according to the U.S. rights group, Human Rights Watch, as police used rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons to break up the demonstrations.

Saakashvili subsequently called early elections for January and was reelected with 53% of the vote.

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