Voters head to polls in separatist Georgia region

[dArKeR]

REUTERS , BATUMI, GEORGIA

Georgia held local elections in its Black Sea region of Adzhara Sunday which it hoped would strengthen central control over the once-wayward province, six weeks after its rebellious leader was forced to flee.

The ousting of Aslan Abashidze last month was an early victory for President Mikhail Saakashvili, who came to power pledging to restore central rule in his ex-Soviet republic of 5.5 million, riven by separatism.

But he faces a tougher task in trying to rein in two other rebel regions, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, both of which have de facto independence after fighting secessionist wars with Georgian central authorities.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/06/21/2003175945