Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze announced his resignation Sunday evening in the wake of intensified demands from opposition activists over the past three weeks.

Shevardnadze told the press that he had decided to resign in the interests of the country, the people of Georgia, and tranquility.

"I see that this (the political crisis) could not have ended bloodlessly and I would have had to exercise my power. But I believe this must not be done, and therefore I have signed an act on my resignation," Shevardnadze told journalists in his residence.

"I have never betrayed my people, and therefore I believe that, as president, I must resign," said the 75-year-old veteran state leader who has been ruling the country for about 11 years.

He noted that he is "well accustomed to resignations," and he has a lot to do and has enough to write about.

"I feel happy to have the chance to do something as long as I live," said the white-haired man.

The resignation statement was declared after Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov finished several rounds of meditating talks Sunday with both the opposition parties and Shevardnadze on the settlement of the political crisis triggered by the "fraudulent" Nov. 2 parliament elections.

Ivanov said that he has fulfilled his mediating mission and "it is now for the Georgian political leaders to decide the country's fate."

Shevardnadze did not say who is in power in the country although it is widely expected that Nino Burdzhanadze will perform the acting president of Georgia in line with the country's constitution.

The 39-year-old parliament speaker, who has claimed the interim presidency Saturday evening after opposition activists seized the parliament building and repeated their demand that Shevardnadze resign, may serve as the interim president for 45 days until the pre-term presidential election.

Shevardnadze noted he would go home and would not leave the capital city.

He said "firmly and categorically" that he is not going to leave Tbilisi and "is prepared to offer his assistance to future Georgian authorities," according to an opposition leader Zurab Zhvania, who has attended the talks with Ivanov.
 

(Xinhua News Agency November 24, 2003)