Georgia: Here He Comes Again

Two weeks ago, Georgians had every reason to think that Zviad Gamsakhurdia wouldn't be on hand to kick them around anymore. The ousted President, elected with 87% of the vote only seven months earlier, had seen his popularity collapse amid charges of repression and high-handedness. Gamsakhurdia had fled the capital of Tbilisi after the surging opposition successfully launched a 16-day siege. Last week he reappeared in western Georgia calling for a massive offensive "to do away with the junta" that had replaced him.

Neighboring Armenia had granted Gamsakhurdia a safe haven on condition that he abstain from politics. Ten days later, he allegedly flew to nearby Chechen- Ingush, a rebellious region in Russia. From there he made his way to Zugdidi, center of his traditional power base, where his supporters were gathering.

The ruling Military Council in Tbilisi braced for trouble. It ordered troops to the western region, accused Armenia of trying to provoke civil war and charged the ousted President with abuse of power, embezzlement and inciting ethnic hatreds.

Since Georgia is already facing ethnic conflicts in the regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Gamsakhurdia's latest move seemed likely to bring his country to the brink of the civil war that he has been calling for.