Tensions in the Georgian Capital Tbilisi as the country prepares for contentious parliamentary elections on Monday. The vote is seen as a showdown between current President Mikheil Saakashvili and billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili and his so-called Georgian Dream party.<br/> <br />While polls in August showed the "Georgian Dream" trailing -- opposition support has been on the rise since mass protests erupted against prison abuse.<br/> <br />A close election could cause its own set of problems says Mark Mullen, of Transparency International.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) CHAIRMAN OF TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL IN GEORGIA MARK MULLEN, SAYING:<br/> <br />"This part of the world does not have a lot of experience with calm transfers of power. It also is an area in which losers don't tend to recognize that they've lost."<br/> <br />Irakli Alasania one of the leaders of Georgian Dream dismisses those concerns.<br/> <br />(English) ONE OF GEORGIAN DREAM COALITION LEADERS IRAKLI ALASANIA, SAYING:<br/> <br />"I think everything will be peaceful, and the result of the election will be accepted by all the political actors."<br/> <br />The last time Georgia held a parliamentary election in 2008 international observers said the poll was an improvement on a presidential vote that year but was still marred by a number of flaws.
