Fears of a second corrupt poll as cracks show

Published on Sunday 30 November 2003 00:00

IT WAS hailed as the "revolution of roses" but the bloodless coup that ousted Georgia’s president is beginning to show its thorns.

Splits are emerging within the opposition movement that forced Eduard Shevardnadze from power and there are fears that a new election planned for January could be as corrupt and chaotic as the ballot earlier this month that provoked the revolt.

Yesterday, an explosive device went off outside the headquarters of the country’s Labour party, which opposed Shevardnadze but also the new leaders, prompting fears of a major outbreak of violence.

The country’s acting president, Nino Burdzkanadze, has declared that fresh elections will take place on January 4. The November 2 elections were declared void by the Supreme Court.

But election experts say it will take at least two months just to upgrade voters lists, a crucial step towards making sure the election is fair.

Dutch Foreign Minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, chairman of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which is monitoring the Georgian elections, said: "For all concerned it is a Herculean task. We should make a maximum effort as an international community to support the country."

The coup which led to the resignation of Shevardnadze following mass protests over the elections has gained much praise in the West.

But analysts said the high expectations for Georgia’s new leadership cannot be met. Natia Zambakhidze, a leading political commentator, said: "It’s very difficult for people. They are waiting for salaries and pensions today, not a month or a year from now. It’s not possible to solve all problems immediately."

The main groups that brought down Shevardnadze have settled on opposition leader Mikhael Saakashvili, a 35-year-old American-educated lawyer, as their sole candidate in the elections.

But already the first cracks in opposition unity have appeared. Akaki Asatiani, leader of the Union of Georgian Traditionalists, says he may contest the elections independently. "The decision to nominate Saakashvili will create many problems," he said.

Labour party leader Shalva Natelashvili, said he doubted whether it was possible to hold fair elections after "power has been usurped by a terrorist dictatorship". His party is considering a boycott.

"There’s no doubt that the junta of Saakashvili, Burdzhanadze and Zhvania have begun a terror against our party," he said. "They were unable to come to power by constitutional methods and now they are trying to scare their opponents."

In response Saakashvili has already warned Georgian security forces to guard against attempts at a coup. He said on Georgian television: "There is always the possibility of counter-revolution."

• Ian Mather was an observer at this month’s election in Georgia