Ahead on big internal disputes in Georgia, strategic for energy markets

Reuters has consistently led on events out of Georgia, where political developments have the potential to move financial markets in neighbouring Russia and to drive energy markets. After a month of opposition protests and a brief uprising at a military base, President Mikheil Saakashvili agreed to meet opposition leaders. Georgia has strategic significance to Russia and to NATO and is an important transit route for energy flows to Europe. Reuters got the news on May 10 from a government source and confirmed it with the opposition, beating all local and international media. DJ/AFP followed 90 minutes later, quoting Georgian television. The outcome of the talks the following day was keenly awaited. Reuters reported they had ended in failure a full seven minutes before closest competitor DJ/AFP.