Vako saakashvili biography

Saakashvili: People's hero or demagogue?

Georgia's new president - who led protests that swept Eduard Shevardnadze from office - has vowed to turn his poverty-stricken country into a prosperous western-leaning state.

Mikheil Saakashvili, 36, has built himself the reputation of a crusader against corruption and an enemy of poverty.

Opinion polls suggest he has been the country's most popular politician for the last two years, and he appeared to have achieved a landslide victory in the 4 January election.

But critics describe him as a demagogue and a populist with a strong lust for power.

Mr Saakashvili is proud of his own achievements, which he believes qualify him to deal with his country's problems.

"We need to deal with that mess as soon as possible," he told French news agency AFP.

"I am ready to deal with that mess."

Groomed for power

He studied in Ukraine and France, before attending Columbia University law schoo