Shevardnadze quits after weeks of protest

GEORGIAN President Eduard Shevardnadze resigned yesterday, after weeks of protests forced the man who helped end the Cold War to step down.

Mr Shevardnadze flew out of Georgia late last night, hours after stepping down, news agencies reported. He flew out on his presidential plane, which had been made ready hours earlier, RIA Novosti agency said.

"I am leaving," 75-year-old Shevardnadze said after meeting with the leaders of the opposition, whose supporters staged three weeks of almost daily protests demanding that he step down as leader of the tiny Caucasian nation.