President Mikhail Saakashvili of Georgia has announced that he is replacing his prime minister.

"We took a joint decision with Lado Gurgenidze that he will no longer serve as prime minister," the president told a meeting of MPs.

He did not say why the decision was made. It is not clear if it was linked to Georgia's war with Russia in August.

Mr Saakashvili said he was promoting Georgia's ambassador to Turkey, Grigol Mgaloblishvili, to prime minister.