SUKHUM, August 19. /ITAR-TASS/. Delegations from 23 countries will observe the August 24 early presidential elections in Abkhazia, an advisor of the Abkhaz parliament's speaker said on Tuesday.

Among them will be observers from Russia, South Ossetia, Armenia, Italy, Bulgaria, Brazil, Finland, France, China, Japan and the Czech Republic, the advisor said.

Opposition leader Raul Hadzhimba, Defense Minister Mirab Kishmaria, security service chief Aslan Bzania and former Interior Minister Dzapshba are running for the president.

The early elections will be held following demonstrations in late May, which led to the resignation of then incumbent president Aleksandr Ankvab.