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Georgian opposition party demands recall of British ambassador

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Georgia's opposition Labor party on Monday accused British Ambassador Denis Keefe of conspiring with the authorities in denying its leader a U.K. visa and demanded he leave the Caucasus state.
TBILISI, February 23 (RIA Novosti) - Georgia's opposition Labor party on Monday accused British Ambassador Denis Keefe of conspiring with the authorities in denying its leader a U.K. visa and demanded he leave the Caucasus state.

"For political motives and undoubtedly in concert with the bloody regime of [President Mikheil] Saakashvili, the embassy and the consulate denied an entry visa to the leader of Georgia's Labor Party," leader Shalva Natelashvili said at a news conference in Tbilisi.

"We are suspending all contacts with the British Embassy until apologies are made and the ambassador and consul recalled from the country," he added.

Natelashvili said the British Embassy had denied him a visa without giving any explanation. He said he had planned to meet with British Labour Party members and other politicians in London.

Georgia's opposition has demanded Saakashvili's resignation, most recently blaming him for the August war with Russia over South Ossetia.

Saakashvili has ruled out early presidential or parliamentary elections, saying that 2008 saw early presidential, parliamentary and local elections. The president's second term expires in 2013.

Natelashvili is a member of Georgia's parliament, but he has not attended parliamentary sessions as his party is boycotting the new legislature.

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