Georgian Prime Minister Mr Zurab Zhvania has died of apparent gas poisoning, the ex-Soviet state's Interior Minister said.
"Since he did not answer his telephone for a long period his bodyguard broke through the window . . . and found Mr Zhvania's body. We can say that this is a case of gas poisoning," Interior Minister Mr Vano Merabishvili said.
Mr Zhvania was found dead at 4:30 a.m. (local time) this morning, Mr Merabishvili said, adding foul play was not suspected.
News of Mr Zhvania's death stunned the mountainous Caucasus republic of 5 million, hit by separatist tensions and still recovering from a car bombing on Tuesday which killed three policemen and seriously injured 15.
Russia's Interfax news agency said Mr Zhvania's body was found in the apartment of a friend who also died.
Mr Zhvania (41) was appointed prime minister in early 2004 by President Mikhail Saakashvili, who was swept to power by a wave of protests over a fraudulent election that forced veteran leader Mr Eduard Shevardnadze to resign.
Mr Zhvania had for several years been an ally of Mr Shevardnadze but joined joined Mr Saakashvili in opposition and was instrumental in bringing about the "rose revolution" to force out Mr Shevardnadze.
There were reports of friction between Mr Saakashvili and Mr Zhvania, though neither man aired this in public.