Gamsakhurdia Backers Bar Negotiations With Military : Georgia: 3,000 supporters march in Tbilisi. The Black Sea port of Poti is reportedly pacified.

MOSCOW —  Supporters of Georgia’s ousted president refused Sunday to negotiate peace with the provisional Military Council government, news agencies reported.

In Tbilisi, the republic’s capital, 3,000 supporters of Zviad Gamsakhurdia marched Sunday to the Parliament building to demand that he be reinstated.

“Anarchy and banditry are reigning in Zugdidi,” Gamsakhurdia’s hometown in western Georgia, the Interfax news agency said.

“Armed men loyal to Gamsakhurdia are terrorizing the local population,” said the dispatch, which quoted the ruling council’s press center.

According to Interfax, Gamsakhurdia loyalists have been unable to assemble a team to negotiate reconciliation with the Military Council. Interfax said National Guard forces and troops of the Military Council based in Zugdidi are refraining from firing on the ousted president’s supporters.

The news agency said Military Council forces have stabilized the situation in the Black Sea port of Poti, formerly a Gamsakhurdia stronghold.

“Port facilities and the local railway are expected to resume work on Monday,” Interfax said, quoting the council’s press center.

In Tbilisi, thousands of Gamsakhurdia loyalists took to the streets.

An Associated Press photographer said that 3,000 supporters, chanting “Zviad, Zviad,” gathered outside the main rail terminal, then marched toward Parliament.

Unlike Saturday, when police put up roadblocks to prevent them from reaching the Parliament, authorities for the first time allowed the demonstrators to group in front of the building, where they kneeled in prayer and lit candles.

During the march, several people fired into the air from cars. At least one marcher was hit in the leg, the photographer said.

Gamsakhurdia has been hiding in western Georgia since fleeing Tbilisi on Jan. 6.