Georgia, which has been criticized for using "excessive force" to crack down on anti-government protests, has become increasingly authoritarian, according to Western governments.

By Felix Light TBILISI (Reuters) -Protesters rallied in Georgia's capital for a fourth straight night on Sunday and there were signs that opposition was spreading across the country to the government's decision to suspend talks on joining the European Union.

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.

Protesters have gathered across Georgia in a third straight night of demonstrations against the government’s decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union

People have gathered in the streets of Tbilisi for the fourth night in a row amid ongoing pro-EU protests Georgians have been demonstrating this week to vent anger at the ruling party's decision to suspend talks on joining the European Union There is a heavy police presence near parliament in the city tonight - earlier in the week officers used water cannon,