Georgia releases opposition activists after clashes

Georgian authorities on Thursday released three opposition activists whose detention sparked violent late-night clashes between police and protesters demanding the resignation of President Mikheil Saakashvili, Reuters said, according to NewsDaily.

The violence, in which 22 protesters and six police were wounded, came the day after a brief military uprising by a tank battalion. The events cast a shadow over the start of month-long NATO military exercises in the former Soviet republic that have angered neighboring Russia.

The head of the influential Orthodox Church, Patriarch Ilia II, warned overnight the situation was «in danger of exploding.» He called for the activists' release to calm the situation and told the opposition not to step outside the law.

The prosecutor-general said in a statement the prisoners had been released in response to the Patriarch's request.