Officials Release Audio Saying Okruashvili Aspires for PM Position

The authorities have released a taped phone conversation, allegedly, between ex-defense minister Irakli Okruashvili and chief of prison system Bacho Akhalaia, which was conducted on November 3.

The 20-second long audio tape was disseminated through the television stations by the press office of Penitentiary System. It was not immediately clear whether the tape was edited or truncated.

?Do you need a help?? a voice of a man said to be Irakli Okruashvili?s asks. ?I guess you need a help brother. Look for next couple of days and let me know. Listen, tell Misha [Mikheil Saakashvili] to sack the cabinet and to appoint me as the Prime Minister and I will disband the demonstration.?

MP Gia Tsagareishvili from the Movement for United Georgia ? the party set up by Okruashvili ? said that Irakli Okruashvili planned a statement about the issue.

?What I can say for now is that this was a provocation,? Tsagareishvili told the Georgian Public Broadcaster.