Nino Burjanadze, the acting president, announced on December 12 the establishment of an inter-agency task force on free and fair elections.

“The task force will function as a rapid response mechanism, linking leading Georgian government bodies with international and domestic election observation organizations,” the acting president’s press office said in a statement.

The purpose of the group, it said, would be “to further enhance” the government’s measures at ensuring that the January 5 early presidential polls are free and fair.

The task force will include senior Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials and members of Parliament.