SHEVARDNADZE DECLARES VICTORY.

Georgia’s head of state and former Soviet foreign minister Eduard Shevardnadze declared victory on Monday in Georgia’s presidential election, saying he had won backing for a program for "saving the country." Election officials in the turbulent Transcaucasus state were still counting the votes from Sunday’s poll. But Central Electoral Commission chairman Ivane Kiguradze said Shevardnadze had won 70 percent support in areas where the count had been completed.

Iraqi Parliament Ratifies Russian Oil Deal.