Georgia Protesters Try to Breach the Capital's Presidential Palace

Police in the Caucasian nation have engaged with opposition protesters trying to storm the head of state's residence in the main city, Tbilisi.

Security forces employed water cannons and irritant spray to disperse the protesters.

The South Caucasus country has been in crisis since the ruling incumbent party claimed success in last year's general election, which the EU-supporting opposition claims was rigged. Following that, the government has paused talks on joining the EU.

The demonstration took place on the identical day as municipal polls, which the opposition is mostly abstaining from following a state crackdown. One organiser had earlier demanded leaders of the Georgian Dream party to be detained.

Brandishing national and European Union banners, tens of thousands of protesters marched in downtown Tbilisi on the weekend.

A key figure, opera singer Paata Burchuladze, announced a statement urging the employees of the ministry of internal affairs to heed the demands of the public and to promptly arrest several high-ranking members from the governing party.

Demonstrators then marched on the president's office and attempted to invade the compound, leading to riot police to use chemical irritants.

The demonstration comes after a crackdown on activists, free press and opposition groups in recent months, with most of the leaders of the Western-aligned opposition now in prison.

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