A political crisis in Georgia which has seen thousands of protesters calling for the resignation of President Eduard Shevardnadze deepened early yesterday after late-night peace talks broke up with no agreement.

After leaving the talks in Shevardnadze's lavish residence just outside the capital, opposition leaders joined the 5,000 protesters who are camped outside the parliament building and who say they will not budge until the president annuls a disputed parliamentary election and quits office.

"We will fight to the end, until this regime leaves, " said Mikhail Saakashvili, who was at the failed talks. "Shevardnadze is leading the country towards civil war. He is responsible for whatever happens."