TBILISI, April 10 (RIA Novosti) -  Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili made it clear on Friday he would not cede to opposition demands that he resign, as protests continued in the capital.

Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in central Tbilisi on Thursday demanding Saakashvili resign. The president has been criticized for his authoritarian tendencies along with his handling of the August war with Russia, which crushed Georgia's military offensive against South Ossetia.

Speaking to journalists in the presidential administration building, Saakashvili pledged to build a new hydro power plant to alleviate the energy problems in the Caucasus state, and described Thursday's demonstrations as a "sign of political maturity," but urged unity among political groups.

"I understand that the poverty in the country was exacerbated by the war. People have become angry, I am also angry with all these problems, but resolving them requires the unity of all the citizens and political groups," Saakashvili said.

The Georgian opposition, which on Thursday said Saakashvili had one "last chance" to resign, said on Friday they were waiting for the president's reaction to the resignation demand before taking further steps.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in front of parliament on Friday, with thousands more expected to join them later in the day.