Georgian Saakashvili quits as Ukraine Odessa governor

Mr Saakashvili gave vent to his frustrations in an address to the media in Odessa

Mikheil Saakashvili, the former Georgian president, has resigned as governor of Ukraine's Odessa region, expressing fury at rampant corruption.

He accused Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko of backing corrupt officials who, he said, were undermining his reform efforts in Odessa.

Mr Poroshenko appointed him Odessa governor in May 2015, with a remit to fight corruption in the key port city.

Mr Saakashvili also criticised the huge wealth of some Ukrainian politicians.

His resignation followed that of the Odessa police chief and fellow Georgian, Giorgi Lortkipanidze.

Odessa leads Ukraine's battle to reform

"In Odessa region the president is personally supporting two clans," he said - clans which he described as criminal and corrupt.

Odessa is a major Black Sea transport hub and tourist destination

"This is going on quite openly. Odessa region is being handed over not only to corrupt people, but also to enemies of Ukraine," he said.

"I'm sick and tired of all this. So in this situation I decided to resign and start a new phase of struggle."

Ukraine craves a radical movement - by Tom Burridge, BBC Kiev correspondent:

There is an argument that the former Georgian president's abrasive style is exactly what Ukraine needs.

But others will point to his own insatiable appetite for political office. And his opponents say he blurts out serious allegations when concrete evidence is lacking.

Whether his resignation is down to failing political reforms in Ukraine, or his own failings, we haven't seen the last of his political ambitions in Ukraine.

A close ally of his told me that people in Ukraine "are desperate and hungry for any kind of competent and radical movement".

There will be a new political party. And its leader is likely to be Mikheil Saakashvili.

Read this analysis in full.

'Brazen billionaires'

Mr Saakashvili did not specify what role he would take up next.

He expressed disgust over the fortunes that some Ukrainian politicians revealed recently in official declarations.

He said "they declare brazenly that they have billions in cash alone, and on top of that they get state aid - from those very pensioners who collect their last kopecks with shaking hands to avoid dying of hunger".

Mr Saakashvili was granted Ukrainian citizenship after leaving Georgia, where his presidential term ended in 2013. Soon after, he was accused of abuse of power - charges that he denies and says are politically motivated.

He is a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose forces expelled Georgian troops from two breakaway Georgian regions - South Ossetia and Abkhazia - in 2008.