13:01, 5 May 2004

Abashidze's armed supporters control center of Adjarian capital

Armed supporters of Aslan Abashidze and officers of local special operations units are in full control of the center of Batumi, the capital of Georgia's Adjarian autonomy. The city is full of gunmen, single shots are being heard time and again, a Regnum correspondent reports.

Meanwhile, a meeting at the building of the Batumi University is going on. According to different estimates, up to 15 thousand people are demanding Abashidze's resignation. Supporters of the autonomy's head are staging another meeting near his administration. The situation in Batumi is heated, buses full of adversaries of the Adjarian leader are on their way from other regions of the autonomy and from Tbilisi to Batumi. There is unconfirmed information that Abashidze himself is in his residence. According to Tbilisi, Abashidze's private plane is ready to take off at any moment.

Source: REGNUM News Agency