Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said on Wednesday that he will declare mass amnesty in the Caucasus nation, after a week-long state of emergency.

 

"I think that the government can grant amnesty to people who committed minor and non-violent crimes and who need to be reintegrated into society. Something they are unlikely to get in prison," Saakashvili told a group of doctors.

 

The amnesty, however, will not apply to those who committed violent crimes or murder, as well as to officials convicted of corruption, Interfax news agency quoted the president as saying.

 

Saakashvili declared a state of emergency last Wednesday, after a police crackdown on anti-government protesters.

 

Georgian Parliament Speaker Nino Burdzhanadze said on Wednesday that the state of emergency, which bans public demonstrations and independent newscasts, will be lifted on Friday.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 15, 2007)