More than 100 serving Georgian diplomats have signed an open letter criticising the new government's suspension of EU accession talks, a diplomat said on Friday, and a protest against the move led to overnight clashes on the streets of the capital.

Violent clashes erupted in Tbilisi as protesters opposed the Georgian government's decision to delay EU membership talks amid a post-election crisis. Demonstrations against the ruling Georgian Dream party's declared victory led to arrests and confrontations with police using rubber bullets and tear gas.

Georgians unhappy with delaying the country's EU membership talks have flooded Tbilisi's streets for the third night in a row. Clashes with the police erupted outside parliament, in an effort to disperse the protesters.

Protesters clashed with police in Georgia's capital of Tbilisi on Thursday after the government suspended talks on its bid to join the European Union for four years.

In downtown Tbilisi on Thursday evening, clashes erupted during a protest against the government's decision to suspend EU accession talks until 2028, local media reported. Among the protesters was the country's president,

Police used water cannons on Chichinadze Street, near the parliament building. Before the dispersal, clashes erupted between law enforcement officers and demonstrators. Read also: EU and Josep Borrell urge Georgia to investigate and address election violations Reports indicated that police used pepper spray,