Georgian parliament deputy, leader of the Pan-Georgian political movement Ertoba (Revival) and former secretary of the Georgian Communist Party Dzhumber Patiashvili on Tuesday demanded President Eduard Shevardnadze's immediate resignation. He argued that Shevardnadze "is incapable of performing his constitutional duties, as he cannot ensure the country's territorial integrity and the citizens' security, and does not defend Georgia's interests on the international arena." He also said the authorities and the president have led Georgia "into a catastrophic deadlock, as a result of which the country may lose its state system." The current situation in Georgia is largely due to tensions in relations with Russia, Patiashvili said. "Shevardnadze's latest moves vividly demonstrated that he cannot establish constructive relations with the Russian leadership," he said. He noted that the president "is trying to create a new image of an external enemy to justify the current miserable situation and the authorities' weakness." "Whereas recently, Georgia was a split, poor and hungry quasi- state with corrupt authorities, now it is perceived as a shelter for international terrorists," Patiashvili said. (Interfax)