Georgia's new interim leader has pledged to hold elections within 45 days and called for stability in the former Soviet republic following the resignation of embattled President Eduard Shevardnadze.
Interim President Nino Burjanadze has asked Georgia's outgoing parliament to meet Tuesday to set a date for new parliamentary and presidential elections. She says that because of widespread fraud in parliamentary elections earlier this month, members of the old parliament, elected in 1999, will remain in office.
In her first nationally televised address, Ms. Burjanadze, who was the speaker of parliament, urged protesters who have been holding anti-government demonstrations to go back to work now that Mr. Shevardnadze has stepped down.
Mr. Shevardnadze resigned Sunday in the wake of massive opposition protests that followed this month's disputed parliamentary election. In an interview with German television Monday, Mr. Shevardnadze said he plans to stay in Georgia, dismissing persistent rumors he might leave for Germany.