Smaller round-the-clock protest camps also continued outside Saakashvili's office and the headquarters of public television.

Organisers said they would set up another round-the-clock demonstration outside the state chancellery office, near the parliament building.

"As long as we are united our victory is guaranteed," Zviad Dzidziguri, a co-leader of the opposition Conservative Party, told the crowd.

"The Georgian people have taken the decision that Saakashvili must leave. Long live Georgia without Saakashvili!"

As participation in the protests has fallen, the opposition has tried to keep pressure on Saakashvili by setting up protest camps and blocking traffic in parts of Tbilisi, disrupting government operations and life in the capital.

The first days of the protests saw the biggest demonstrations against Saakashvili's rule since Georgia fought a brief war with Russia last August.

Opponents accuse Saakashvili of mishandling the conflict with Russia and of becoming increasingly autocratic since he came to power after the peaceful 2003 Rose Revolution.

Saakashvili has rejected the resignation calls, instead offering talks on democratic reforms, and has suggested that Russia is financing the campaign against him.

Copyright (c) 2009 AFP. All rights reserved.