Georgian plot

Eduard Shevardnadze, the Georgian leader, faces the danger of being ousted by his powerful Defence Minister, Tengiz Kitovani, according to Izvestia newspaper, Reuter reports from Moscow.

It quoted sources close to Georgian intelligence as saying that Mr Kitovani held a secret meeting last week with local officials in rebel western Georgia. The sources said Mr Kitovani, whose forces played a key role in ousting Zviad Gamsakhurdia, the former Georgian president, and bringing the former Soviet foreign minister to power last year, told the meeting Mr Shevardnadze should be sacked.