Gamsakhurdia Loyalists Continue Fight

Forces loyal to Zviad Gamsakhurdia, Georgia’s ousted president, abandoned a stronghold Sunday, but claimed to have fought off forces of the ruling Military Council in two other cities.

A rally in support of Gamsakhurdia continued in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi. About 3,000 people massed at the city’s train station demanding the return of the president.

Troops dispatched by the new ruling Military Council tried to disperse the crowd by firing into the air, but the undaunted protesters marched toward the soldiers and forced them to retreat, Georgian television reported. No injuries were reported.

Thousands of Gamsakhurdia supporters also gathered in Zugdidi after local television urged them to arm themselves and protect the city.

Gamsakhurdia’s whereabouts remained unknown. He was reported to have returned to Georgia on Thursday from Armenia, where he had taken refuge for 10 days after fleeing a fierce siege of his Government House in Tbilisi, but he has not been seen in public.

Members of the National Disobedience Committee, which supports Gamsakhurdia, say they do not know where he is.

Security forces sent by the Military Council, which took control of the country after Gamsakhurdia fled, attacked Poti and Abasha on Sunday, said Rene Kalandia, a spokesman for the National Disobedience Committee in Zugdidi.

“There were exchanges of fire, but now it’s quiet,” he said. “We fought them back at Abasha and so far we are also in control of Poti.” Several people were wounded and the Gamsakhurdia supporters lost two armored vehicles in the fighting, he said. More details were not available.