Mikhail Saakashvili, favorite in Georgia's presidential poll, pledged Sunday to fight corruption, combat poverty and restore central control over the restive regions of the former Soviet republic. 

At a press conference held after Sunday's presidential election, Saakashvili said he would uphold peaceful negotiations with the breakaway province of Abkhazia.

Georgia is willing to give Abkhazia extensive autonomy within the framework of one nation, but no separation of Abkhazia from Georgia will be allowed, Saakashvili stressed.

He also expressed hope that the United Nations and Russia would play constructive roles in settling the issue.

Abkhazia's independence movement culminated in a 1992-93 war that forced out Georgian authorities.

Saakashvili pledged that he would live up to his promises by seeking national unity, carrying out constitutional reform and fighting corruption.

On foreign policy, Saakashvili stressed the importance of developing friendly ties with neighboring Russia, which he took as one of new government's major tasks.

The two countries should manage to seek common ground while upholding the national interests of each side, he said.

Smooth voting

Georgia's presidential election was called swiftly after former President Eduard Shevardnadze's resignation last November following mass protest against alleged fraud in the parliamentary elections.

The run-up to the poll was marred by violence and threats of boycott by discontented regions, but the polling day turned out to be peaceful.

According to Georgia's electoral law, a 50 percent threshold is required to make presidential polls valid.

But exit polls conducted by Georgian and American agencies indicated that Saakashvili netted 85.8 percent of the votes, an absolute lead over his four rivals.

Georgia's Central Elections Commission (CEC) has declared the election valid, citing a preliminary voter turnout of 65 percent.

CEC Chairman Zurab Chiaberashvili described the election as "almost impeccable," saying the voters "behaved very decently and displayed political culture" and that "no flagrant violations were registered in the ballot."

Official preliminary results of the presidential election are expected to be announced Monday and the final results will come out on Wednesday. 

(Xinhua News Agency January 5, 2004)