(http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/121001-georgia-opp-245a.photoblog600.jpg)Georgy Abdaladze / APBillionaire and opposition leader Bidzina Ivanishvili, left, and his wife Ekaterine Khvedelidze pray in a church in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Monday. By Alastair Jamieson, NBC NewsUpdated at 1:30 p.m. ET: One of the world’s richest businessmen claimed to have inflicted a surprise narrow defeat on the incumbent pro-Western party in Monday’s elections in Georgia, a key ally of the United States neighboring Russia.
Billionaire tycoon-turned-politician Bidzina Ivanishvili claimed his opposition political alliance Georgian Dream had staged a remarkable upset and was heading for control of the former Soviet republic's parliament.
However, incumbent President Mikheil Saakashvili insisted his United National Movement was on course to retain power.
Reports said thousands of Georgian Dream supporters had gathered in the capital, Tbilisi, as the polls closed at 8 p.m. local time (12 p.m. ET). AFP journalist Paul Gypteau wrote on Twitter that (https://twitter.com/paulgypteau/status/252823965687508992) the capital's Freedom Square was full with "cheering" people, while International Young Democrat Union observer Katrina Rice posted pictures (https://twitter.com/Veribatim) showing crowds in the streets.
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