Opposition win in Georgia elections

on 02/10/2012 11:45:29

Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili has conceded defeat in parliamentary elections and said the opposition now had the right to form a government.

He said: "It's clear from the preliminary results that the opposition has the lead and it should form the government. And I as president should help them with this."

Early results showed an opposition coalition led by billionaire businessman Bidzina Ivanishvili with what appears to be an insurmountable lead as voters turned away from Mr Saakashvili and the party that has been in power for almost nine years.