Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze announced today he had quit, bowing to opposition protesters who stormed parliament declaring a "velvet revolution" and demanding his resignation.
Speaking on television, Mr Shevardnadze (75) said: "I am going home." When asked who would be the next president of Georgia, he said: "It is not my business."
|
His resignation followed talks with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, main opposition leader Mr Mikhail Saakashvili and fellow opposition activist Mr Zurab Zhvania at the veteran Georgian president's suburban residence.
A presidential plane was waiting on the tarmac at Tbilisi airport, local television said.
"The president has accomplished a courageous act," Mr Saakashvili said inremarks shown on Georgian television. "By his resignation, he avoided spillingblood in the country ... History will judge him kindly." Mr Saakashvili had promised to guarantee the safety of the Georgian leader andhis family if he resigned.
Mr Saakashvili added that Georgia's acting president willbe the speaker of the outgoing parliament, Ms Nino Burdzhanadze.
Tens of thousands of opposition supporters massed outside parliament exploded in rapturous celebrations at the news Mr Shevardnadze had quit.
Mr Saakashvili had called on supporters to march on Mr Shevardnadze's residence to force him to resign after a three-week protest campaign against alleged fraud in a November 2nd parliamentary election.
Mr Shevardnadze had said earlier in the day he was ready to discuss key opposition demands, including an early presidential poll, but opponents said it was too late for talks. His resignation occurred amid signs that some of the security forces were moving over to the opposition side.
It was opposition charges that Mr Shevardnadze rigged the parliamentary election that set off the protests threatening to end 11 years of his increasingly unpopular rule. Mr Shevardnadze, who officially had 18 months left in office, had been widely blamed for the country's grinding poverty.
Yesterday, protesters seized the parliament building. Aswith the "people power" protests that swept Eastern Europe in1989, the military stood aside. Mr Shevardnadze was forced to flee.
"Shevardnadze's regime is bankrupt. His time has beenexhausted," said Mr Saakashvili, a 35-year-old US-trained lawyer.