GEORGIA:Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili appointed a new prime minister yesterday and lifted a state of emergency in the restive Black Sea state.
Mr Saakashvili named banker Vladimir Gurgenidze to replace premier Zurab Nogaideli, as he lifted emergency measures imposed last week when police dispersed protesters demanding elections and an end to widespread poverty and corruption.
"We are putting forward new tasks that must be implemented by new people," Mr Saakashvili said of Mr Gurgenidze (36), who was educated in the United States, has an American wife and was chairman of his country's largest bank, the Bank of Georgia.
Mr Saakashvili, a key US ally on a vital transit route for oil and gas, endured sharp criticism from Washington and the European Union for introducing emergency rule and taking independent television off air.
He insisted that the measures were necessary to prevent a Russian-backed coup allegedly spearheaded by several opposition leaders and funded by Georgia's richest man, Badri Patarkatsishvili. All the accused deny the charges and are living outside Georgia.
Mr Patarkatsishvili has announced that he will run in the January 5th presidential election against Mr Saakashvili, and has denounced prosecutors who have withdrawn his television station's licence for allegedly broadcasting a speech in which he incited a coup.
The channel, Imedi, was deeply critical of the president, and is partly owned and run by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp group, which is demanding that it be allowed back on air.
The EU's representative for the south Caucasus, Peter Semneby, also called for the reopening of Imedi.
"Freedom of the media is a core value of the European Union and it is a core value of the relationship we are building with Georgia," he said.
Minister for conflict settlement David Bakradze responded that the government would "lift any restrictions on Imedi TV broadcasting as soon as possible after ensuring the station is no longer used as a tool for inciting violence and mass disturbances".
Mr Saakashvili insisted that elections would be free and fair on January 5th, when Georgians will also be asked whether they want an early general election.
"All political forces, the opposition, all citizens, will have the opportunity for political activities, to participate in electoral campaigning, including of course access to independent press and television channels," he said.
