TBILISI, January 3rd, 2004 (RIA Novosti correspondent) - Zurab Kelekhsashvili, leader of the Mdzleveli Georgian political movement, has withdrawn his candidacy from the Georgian presidential elections.
"There were unfair conditions at the election campaign. I have no intention of participating in a parade of immorality," he said to journalists on Saturday, several hours before the voting.
Hence, five candidates will participate in the elections due on Sunday, January 4th. They are Roin Liparteliani, leader of the David the Builder political movement, Kartlos Garibashvili, leader of the Georgian Lawyers' Association, Zaza Sikharulidze, leader of the public organisation Georgian League of the Disabled, and Mikhail Saakashvili, former governor of Imeretia (a district in Georgia) and main favourite of the presidential campaign, leader of the National Democracy party.
