TBILISI — Georgian opposition leaders said today they would halt street protests against President Saakashvili after he called for an early presidential election.

Far fewer police and security troops could be seen in the center of the city — where riot troops clashed with anti-government protesters earlier in the week. Yesterday, Mr. Saakashvili called the snap election for January and promised to quickly lift a state of emergency.

Tbilisi’s main avenue reopened for automobile traffic and pedestrians today, and only a handful of police patrolled the street.

In an effort to defuse the worst political crisis during his four years in office, Mr. Saakashvili offered minor concessions yesterday to the opposition, who are demanding electoral changes that will grant them a greater political role. He had come under sharp criticism from the West — and from Russia.

A former foreign minister who now heads the Georgia’s Way opposition party, Salome Zurabishvili, said there was no longer need to hold street protests since Mr. Saakashvili had already been weakened.

“The president’s speech was equal to resignation,” she said.

“We have no plans to take to the streets and organize demonstrations because dialogue (with the authorities) has already begun,” a former government minister and now a leader of the National Council on United Opposition, Georgy Khaindrava, said.

The crackdown on demonstrators and the state of emergency deeply shocked many Georgians. But while his already sliding popularity is likely to take a toll, Mr. Saakashvili can still be expected to win a second term in the January 5 election.

The fragmented opposition lacks the time and resources to mount a serious challenge.