The prime minister of Georgia's separatist Abkhazia region survived an assassination attempt by unknown assailants, the interior minister said Tuesday. Gunmen opened fire at Prime Minister Alexander Ankvab's car late Monday while he was traveling to the prime minister's residence in Gudauta, a resort north of the capital Sukhumi, said Interior Minister Otar Khetsiya. The prime minister was riding with his deputy, Leonid Lakerbaya, in another, identical metallic gray Volga sedan at the front of the motorcade, Khetsiya said. When the shooting began, the car carrying the two officials sped ahead, while the prime minister's car, with just the driver inside, was forced to stop. The driver was not hurt, however, and the assailants fled, he said. Lakerbaya said he had counted 11 bullet holes in the prime minister's car.
