Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili vowed to defy the ruling party’s plan to replace her as riot police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters during a second night of demonstrations in the capital.

Police clashed with protesters in the Georgian capital Tbilisi early on Friday, after the country’s ruling party said the government would suspend talks on European Union accession and refuse budgetary grants until 2028.

Thousands demonstrated in Tbilisi, Georgia, after the country said it had suspended its bid to join the European Union for four years. The police used tear gas and water cannons on protesters outside the Parliament building.

By Felix Light TBILISI (Reuters) -Facing condemnation from the United States and defiance from his own president, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze praised police on Sunday for cracking down on protesters who he said were acting on foreign orders to undermine the state.

The Georgian president Salome Zourabichvili has said she will stay in post until new parliamentary elections are held. Speaking to the BBC's Steve Rosenberg, she said she would retain her position and support ongoing protests against the governing party.

Mass protests have resumed in Georgia against the country's departure from the European path. The government is using force to disperse the protesters. Source: Georgian service of Radio Svoboda (Radio Liberty) Details: Opponents of the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party and the current government gathered on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi in front of the parliament building on the evening of 30 November.

Georgian media reported protests in at least eight cities and towns. Opposition TV channel Formula showed footage of people in Khashuri, a town of 20,000 in central Georgia, throwing eggs at the local Georgian Dream office and tearing down the party's flag.