Biden heads for Georgia

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, chairman of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is headed to the Republic of Georgia to meet with its president.

The Delaware Democrat is going to the troubled region at the invitation of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, a statement said.

In addition to meeting with Saakashvili, Biden will meet with Georgian Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze, U.S. Ambassador to Georgia John Tefft and Georgians who have been forced to flee their homes after the Russian invasion of their homeland.

"I am going to Georgia this weekend to get the facts first-hand and to show my support for Georgia's people and its democratically elected government," Biden said. "I look forward to reporting to my colleagues in the Senate and on the Foreign Relations Committee, as well as the (Bush) administration, about what I learn."

Biden is considered a possible vice presidential running mate for Democratic Presidential hopeful Barack Obama, the junior senator from Illinois.