Georgian president replaces PM, ends emergency rule
Sunday, 18 November 2007
TBILISI, Nov 17 (AFP): Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili replaced his prime minister on Friday after ending emergency rule he imposed following clashes between security forces and opposition supporters.
An interior ministry spokesman confirmed the lifting of the state of emergency and Saakashvili told reporters that Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli had resigned and been replaced by a commercial bank chief, Lado Gurgenidze.
In a clear bid to shore up his popularity, badly dented by the events of recent weeks, the president told journalists after a government meeting: "With the new prime minister we will have new energy, new force."
Gurgenidze said he would work to rebuild trust in the government.
An interior ministry spokesman confirmed the lifting of the state of emergency and Saakashvili told reporters that Prime Minister Zurab Noghaideli had resigned and been replaced by a commercial bank chief, Lado Gurgenidze.
In a clear bid to shore up his popularity, badly dented by the events of recent weeks, the president told journalists after a government meeting: "With the new prime minister we will have new energy, new force."
Gurgenidze said he would work to rebuild trust in the government.