Georgia official freed by troops

Tbilisi (AP) - A Georgian government official was freed yesterday after being held hostage for 41 days by supporters of the ousted president, Zviad Gamsakhurdia.

Calm was reported in the rebellious region of Abkhazia in western Georgia, one day after Georgian troops backed by tanks seized control of its capital, Sukhumi.

Georgia's leader, Eduard Shevardnadze, said he sent troops to Abkhazia on 13 August to flush out supporters of Mr Gamsakhurdia, who was ousted in a brief civil war in January. Last week, his followers kidnapped 12 government officials.