Georgia has suspended its bid to join the European Union, prompting thousands of protesters to take to the streets, where they clashed with police in the capital of Tbilisi.

Thousands of protesters have returned to the streets of Tbilisi to protest against the government's decision to suspend accession talks with the European Union. Demonstrators were seen shouting "traitors" and holding photographs of journalists who they say were beaten by police in Thursday nights protests.

Georgia has been rocked by protests after its increasingly autocratic government said it would halt the former Soviet country’s bid to join the European Union.