Riot police in Georgia have fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse crowds protesting against a bill seen by the opposition as targeting media freedoms.

Demonstrators threw eggs and bottles at the police outside the parliament in the capital, Tbilisi.

The crowds retreated, but clashes continued on the main Rustaveli Avenue late on Tuesday. A number of people were reportedly injured and detained.

On 17 April, MPs gave their initial backing to the “foreign agent” bill.

Under the bill proposed by the ruling Georgian Dream party, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and independent media that receive more than 20% of their funding from foreign donors would have to register as organisations “bearing the interests of a foreign power”.

They would also be monitored by Georgia’s justice ministry and could be forced to share sensitive information – or face hefty fines of up to 25,000 Georgian lari ($9,400; £7,500).

The passing of the bill in its first reading triggered a series of street protests.

On Tuesday, several protesters were injured during the clashes in Tbilisi, media reports say.

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