Eduard Shevardnadze Ready to Accept Early Presidential Elections in Georgia - 2003-11-23

Eduard Shevardnadze is ready to accept early presidential elections in Georgia - 2003-11-23. The opposition group has threatened to protest in front of the residence of the embattled Georgian president. This group claims it is too late for negotiations. Early on Sunday, Mr. Shevardnadze succumbed to the demands of the opposition and stated he is prepared to accept early presidential elections. Mr. Shevardnadze says he will only agree to new elections if the protesters vacate the government buildings they have occupied. However, opposition leaders, who insist on their struggle to oust Mr. Shevardnadze, have called on their supporters to occupy more government centers, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the television network, instead of responding positively to Mr. Shevardnadze's request. Mikheil Saakashvili, the leader of the opposition group, who had asked his supporters to protest in front of the president's residence on Sunday, now says he is postponing the timing of the protests to allow Mr. Shevardnadze to peacefully step down from power. The opposition group also states that an increasing number of state security officials are abandoning their posts. Amid the rising tide of crisis, Mr. Shevardnadze on Sunday dismissed his national security advisor, Tedo Japaridze. Meanwhile, thousands of protesters have gathered in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Mr. Shevardnadze has been the target of protests for three weeks following the controversial parliamentary election results held earlier this month in this former Soviet republic. Until Sunday, Mr. Shevardnadze had resisted repeated calls to step down or hold new elections. Igor Ivanov, the Russian Foreign Minister, and Mikheil Saakashvili, the leader of the opposition group in Georgia, are heading toward the residence of the Georgian president. Meanwhile, Russia is trying to resolve the escalating political crisis in Georgia.