Georgia rebels seize minister

HELSINKI (Reuter) - Eduard Shevardnadze, the Georgian leader, denounced as terrorism the kidnap of one of Georgia's deputy prime ministers yesterday, but said it would not halt movement towards democracy in his country. 'This is open terrorism,' Mr Shevardnadze said. He blamed supporters of Zviad Gamsakhurdia, the Georgian President who was overthrown in January, for the kidnap of Alexander Kavsadze in western Georgia. His driver was killed in the attack. Mr Shevardnadze linked the kidnap with an attack on a television centre in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, last month. 'I think these are the last attempts to obstruct the process of democratisation, the establishment of a democratic state, to obstruct the (planned) elections,' he said.