Police in Georgia says a police officer and a demonstrator were killed during the violent clearing of an anti-government protest in the capital Tbilisi, as AP reported. The Interior Ministry said Thursday that both victims died when they were hit by one of several cars fleeing the rally after the violence began. The rally, which began late Wednesday and spilled into early Thursday, was aimed at blocking an Independence Day parade set for later Thursday, and to push demands that the president resign. Police moved in with a water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets after the demonstrators defied a midnight deadline to disperse, arresting dozens. Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said nearly 40 remain hospitalized, among them eight police and one local journalist.
