GEORGIAN PRESIDENT ASSUMES PRIME MINISTER'S DUTIES

Mikheil Saakashvili announced in Tbilisi that he will head the Georgian government temporarily following the sudden death of Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania, Georgian and Western agencies reported. Deputy Prime Minister Giorgi Baramidze will be responsible for the day-to-day work of the cabinet. Georgia's Constitutional Court ruled on 4 February that Saakashvili's decision to assume responsibility for the government does not violate the constitution, Caucasus Press reported. In line with the Georgian Constitution, Saakashvili must propose a new prime minister to parliament within seven days. Within three days of that candidate's confirmation, s/he and the president must submit to parliament the proposed new composition of the government. Economy Minister Kakha Bendukidze, Defense Minister Irakli Okruashvili, and Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili all said on 3 February that Zhvania's death will not impact the government's policies or effectiveness.