23:13, 17 November 2004

Abkhazian Council of Elders declares for second round of elections

A meeting of the Abkhazian Council of Elders was held in Sukhum, Prime Minter Nodar Khashba and two presidential candidates, Sergey Bagapsh and Raul Khadzhimba, attending it. This meeting was the second one for the last three days, but the first one in which the prime minister and both the political opponents participated, reported the Caucasian Knot correspondent. The meeting in the Abkhazian National Drama Theater lasted for over seven hours. It focused on one question — how not to allow an armed conflict in Abkhazia. The Council of Elders suggested that Raul Khadzhimba and Sergey Bagapsh should reach a compromise settlement by Saturday, November 20, Chairman of the Council of Elders Pavel Adzinba announced after the meeting.

"We met with the republican Council of Elders, who raised their concern and insist on holding new elections," Sergey Bagapsh, the candidate for the Abkhazian presidency, said. But he claimed "it is unacceptable for us".

Source: Caucasian Knot