Moscow - Some three months after the Georgia-Russia conflict, the Georgian parliament has confirmed Grigol Mgaloblishvili as new prime minister, local media reports said Sunday. Mgaloblishvili, 35-year-old former ambassador to Turkey, was nominated for the post by President Mikheil Saakashvili last week after dismissing previous incumbent Lado Gurgenidze.
The reports Sunday said the ministers of culture, environment, justice and housing had all been replaced, but the defence, foreign and interior ministers - seen as co-responsible for the ill-fated conflict - all remained.
Saakashvili, who is facing increasing opposition over what is seen as his disastrous handling of the conflict with Russia, told media that Mgaloblishvili was a proponent of reuniting the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Saakashvili recommended Oxford-educated Mgaloblishvili to parliament in a nationally televised address Monday - but the opposition criticised Mgaloblishvili as too inexperienced.
Three months on from Tbilisi's attempt - thwarted by Russian troops - to reassert control over its separatist region of South Ossetia, Saakashvili's domestic critics have grown more vocal and investor confidence has taken a hit, seeing economic growth forecasts dive.
A group of opposition factions have called a protest for November 7 to mark the anniversary a police crackdown against protestors of Saakashvili's government.
Saakashvili declared a state of emergency to rein in the demonstrations last autumn, then called early elections amid Western criticism.
Saakashvili's opponents say he provoked an impossible-to-win war with Russia that is the last proof of an unreasonable and head- strong leadership.
