By Felix Light TBILISI (Reuters) -Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili called the government illegitimate on Saturday and said she would not leave office when her term ends next month, defying the prime minister as he accused pro-EU opposition forces of plotting revolution.

Mass protests in the capital are continuing to erupt for a third consecutive night on Saturday in the capital Tbilisi. Riot police have been deployed around the country's parliament, the focal point of three nights of protests.

Georgia's pro-Western president has said she will stay in post until new parliamentary elections are held, as protests continue over the government's decision to put EU accession negotiations on hold.