Georgia inquiry

Georgia sent a team to investigate the reported death of Zviad Gamsakhurdia, who was overthrown as president in 1992, but the head of state, Eduard Shevardnadze, said his demise would make little difference to the country, Reuter reports from Tbilisi.

Mr Shevardnadze's press office said a team of interior ministry officials led by the deputy prosecutor-general had left for the western region of Zugdidi. The former leader's wife, Manana, said on Wednesday that her husband killed himself on New Year's Eve after the failure of his latest attempt to return to power.