Fourth night of protests across Georgia after EU accession talks suspension

A fourth consecutive night of protests is under way across Georgia against the government's decision to suspend European Union accession talks.

Officials in the country say at least 44 people have been hospitalised in increasingly violent demonstrations.

The Interior Ministry said that 27 protesters, 16 police officers and one media worker were taken to hospital.

Tens of thousands of protesters, mostly gathered outside parliament in the capital Tbilisi, threw stones and fireworks at squads of police officers.

Police officers used water cannons, tear gas and pepper spray in a bid to disperse crowds.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze warned that, "any violation of the law will be met with the full rigor of the law."

"Neither will those politicians who hide in their offices and sacrifice members of their violent groups to severe punishment escape responsibility," he said at a briefing on Sunday.

He insisted however that Georgia's European integration had not been halted.

"The only thing we have rejected is the shameful and offensive blackmail, which was, in fact, a significant obstacle to our country’s European integration."

The unrest began four days ago when the government, headed by the populist Georgian Dream party, announced it was suspending EU accession talks until at least 2028.

That was in response to a European Parliament resolution which criticised the 26 October parliamentary elections which saw the Georgian Dream re-elected as neither free nor fair.

It said the election represented another manifestation of Georgia’s continued democratic backsliding "for which the ruling Georgian Dream party is fully responsible."

International observers say they saw instances of violence, bribery and double voting at the polls, prompting