Georgia to hold elections in January

GEORGIA decided yesterday to hold an election on January 4 to replace ousted president Eduard Shevardnadze as its interim leaders sought to make a fresh start and rescue the stricken economy.

Deputies voted, 155-0, in favour of the poll date after turning out in force to answer an appeal by Mikhail Saakashvili, leader of the anti-Shevardnadze resistance, who said boycotting the session could destabilise the volatile Caucasus state.

"The purpose is to overcome this difficult situation. Each of us carries a huge responsibility but I hope we will begin a new era of our country's development," interim president Nino Burdzhanadze told the session before the vote was taken.