President Wants to Probe Source of Rumor on Alleged Coup Attempt

(Tbilisi February 5, 2003. Civil Georgia) – At the government’s meeting on February 5 President Shevardnadze ordered the General Prosecutor’s Office to investigate sources of rumors on possible coup attempt and report National Security Council on result of the probe in the nearest days.

On February 4 leader of the opposition National Movement Mikheil Saakashvili said that State Minister Avtandil Jorbenadze together with the ‘power ministers’ plotted coup attempt. According to Saakashvili State Minister wants to cut power to President Shevardnadze.

On February 5 one of the leaders of the opposition New Rights party Levan Gachechiladze said that Avtandil Jorbenadze, the State Minister, Koba Narchemashvili, the Interior Minister and Vitali Khazaradze, leader of the Citizens’ Union of Georgia Parliamentary faction were the coup plotters.

“As a result of the ‘gentle’ coup Jorbenadze wanted to become a President, Narchemashvili – a Prime-Minster and Khazaradze – Parliamentary Chairman,” Levan Gachechiladze of the New Rights party stated.