From: Rick Rozoff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Georgia: More Problems For 'America's Closest Ally' HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------- http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,3-2001381152,00.html [It appears that Mr. Shevardnadze's 'closest ally' may be playing both sides of the street in Tbilisi.] "Mr. Shevardnadze is America's closest ally in the Caucasus region south of Russia." THE TIMES (London) FRIDAY NOVEMBER 02 2001 Georgia Cabinet sacked as protests grow FROM VANORA BENNETT IN MOSCOW PRESIDENT Shevardnadze of Georgia has dismissed his Cabinet amid increasing unrest on the streets of the capital, Tbilisi. The latest emergency to affect the poverty and corruption-hit former Soviet republic was provoked by a heavy-handed raid on a television station by security forces on Tuesday. The raid on Rustavi 2, which is accused of fiddling its tax returns, went wrong when the company refused to let the 30 agents in and a jeering crowd of about 500 forced them to retreat. Students took to the streets in protest at the attack on the independent media outlet, which has been sharply critical of government corruption. Their protest was backed by the international rights group Reporters Without Borders, which said the raid was an effort to intimidate the station. Mr Shevardnadze, 73, accepted his Security Minister?s resignation on Wednesday, acknowledging that the security police?s methods had been clumsy. But members of parliament said that this was not enough and that corruption had not been purged. Even after the resignation of other ministers yesterday, there were demands for the entire Government to resign. Thousands of students and other protesters, furious about government failures to curb corruption, have blocked the centre of Tbilisi since Wednesday. ?Shevardnadze is corrupt,? one protester with a Georgian flag painted on her cheek said. ?We need fresh air and honesty in government.? However, in a televised statement the former Soviet Foreign Minister, who also acts as Georgia?s Prime Minister, said that he would not resign. ?I am not an irresponsible man and will continue to rule the country and oversee the creation of a new Cabinet,? he said. ?I am almost the only person left in a position of power and there is a great deal to put to rights.? Mr Shevardnadze is America?s closest ally in the Caucasus region south of Russia. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
