Stalemate in self-proclaimed republic, president "escaped" and sets conditions

The leader of Russia-backed Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhanya, left Sukhumi after opposition demands that he resign, the Echo Kavkaza radio station, a regional newsroom of Radio Free Europe, reported on Saturday. According to opponents of the government, talks with Bzhanya were suspended due to the fact that he had "escaped." The opposition claimed he may have been hiding in a Russian military unit.