Moscow, Dec 03: The leader of the autonomous Adzharia region of Georgia called today for the nation's early presidential elections to be delayed, and he denied that his province had any intention of seceding. "Nobody is prepared for these elections, and elections at such a high level are not conducted in such a (short) period,'' Aslan Abashidze said at a news conference. "If we want to create a new farce, by all means."

He said that if the January 04 date for the vote to replace ousted President Eduard Shevardnadze were not put off, Adzharia would boycott the vote. He suggested that the balloting should be conducted in June.

Abashidze described the protests that brought Shevardnandze down as a "coup,'' and denounced the future election as the opposition leaders' attempt to legitimize their action. Bureau Report