Russia and the United States, rivals for control over the Caspian Sea's enormous oil wealth, forged a pragmatic alliance to ensure a smooth transfer of power in turbulent Georgia, diplomats and analysts said.
They said Moscow and Washington had agreed their own interests were best met by engineering a peaceful exit for long-time President Eduard Shevardnadze, weakened by weeks of mass protests over general elections marred by fraud.
http://www.gazeta.ru/2003/11/25/RussiaUSplot.shtml
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