New leader announced in Abkhazia

He received 90% of votes in the final round of the controversial election held because his rival had disputed the results of the previous round.

According to a compromise between Mr Bagapsh and the rival, Raul Khadzhimba, the latter becomes vice-president.

The vote has been seen as a test for Russia, Abkhazia's main ally, which initially backed Mr Khadzhimba.

Russian newspapers note that, as in Ukraine, the candidate supported by the Kremlin suffered a humiliating defeat despite financial support and the involvement of Russian spin doctors.

In the final round held on Sunday, Mr Bagapsh was opposed by People's Party leader Yakub Lakoba who gathered only about 4% of the vote.

Abkhazia has been de facto independent for more than a decade, following a bloody war for independence.

Georgia did not officially recognise the election and accused Russia of "crudely intervening in the so-called presidential election in Abkhazia".

'Georgia's main task'

Prior to the first round of the election, several prominent Russian MPs travelled to Abkhazia to show support for Mr Khadzhimba, who was also received in the Kremlin by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Billboards showing Mr Khadzhimba and Mr Putin together promptly appeared across Abkhazia.

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has vowed to return the breakaway provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia to Tbilisi's control while he is in office.

In September, he said that returning Abkhazia was "the Georgian state's main task".

On Wednesday, in what appeared to be a reconciliatory move, Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania appointed an ethnic Abkhaz as his spokesperson and an ethnic Ossetian became spokesperson for Mr Saakashvili.

Rivals of Mr Bagapsh have accused him of pro-Georgian views but he has vowed not to compromise on Abkhaz independence and closer ties with Russia.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Georgian parliament
Abkhazia.org
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