12 November 2004, 22:21
Bagapsh's supporters occupy presidential administration building
Sergey Bagapsh, the candidate for the post of president of the breakaway republic of Abkhazia, called upon "everyone who is concerned with the prosperity of the republic" to start a dialogue. Bagapsh announced that a woman was badly wounded during a capture of the parliament building in Sukhum. "We must hold the peace and make our best effort to preserve peace and order in Abkhazia," he said in his address from a window of the parliament captured by his supporters, reported RIA Novosti.
Bagapsh pointed out that he would make plans for tomorrow all night so that "to come to power peacefully". He promised that "none of those people who supported either, one or another candidate will be persecuted," reported a Caucasian Knot correspondent.
Sergey Bagapsh asked all his supporters to go home.
A few hours earlier, some two thousand people supporting him went from Freedom Square, where they held an unauthorized meeting, to the government building, broke through the cordon, and entered Prime Minister Nadar Khashba's private office by force.
People made a demand that their candidate, Bagapsh, should take up the duties of the head of Abkhazia.
Supporters of presidential candidate Raul Khadzhimba hold that the opposition presidential candidates, namely Sergey Bagapsh, Stanislav Lakoba and Aleksandr Ankvab, must leave the republic. Such statements were heard during a meeting held by Raul Khadzhimba's supporters in Sukhum, reported the Caucasian Knot correspondent.
Source: Caucasian Knot
