Protesters demanding elections arrested in Georgia

Georgia opposition supporters were arrested in Tbilisi on Friday following skirmishes with police.

According to the Interior Ministry, 20 demonstrators were arrested when they tried to set up protest tents in front of the parliament to demand to snap parliamentary elections.

Later on Friday, police arrested another five demonstrators including members of political council of the opposition Lelo party.

Tensions have heated up in Georgia following the court decision on Wednesday to arrest Nika Melia, the chairman of the United National Movement opposition party.

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia announced his resignation on Thursday following a court ruling that ordered the arrest of the man who leads the ex-Soviet nation's top opposition party.

Gakharia said in a statement he was stepping down because of disagreements within his own team over the decision to arrest Melia.

A political crisis unfolded in Georgia after a parliamentary election in October, the results of which gave Georgia's ruling party the Georgian Dream a victory with 48% of the votes.

The biggest opposition alliance, led by the United National Movement, placed second with 27%.

The opposition has refused to recognise the results of the vote as valid and demanded a rerun.

Thousands of opposition supporters took to the streets in protest for days after the election.