U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell told journalists in Washington on 27 April after talks with visiting Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania that the United States hopes the Georgian central government will prove able to find political and economic solutions to the outstanding issues within the state of Georgia without recourse to violence. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has responded to Abashidze\'s letter requesting that Washington intervene to prevent an anticipated attempt by the Georgian authorities to assassinate Abashidze. That response reportedly rejects as \"absurd\" Abashidze\'s fears that the United States is colluding with Tbilisi against him and reaffirms Washington\'s hope that the differences between Abashidze and the central Georgian government can be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the interests of the autonomous republic\'s population. (Caucasus Press)