From: MSN NicknameEagle_wng (Original Message) Sent: 3/12/2007 8:16 AM Monday, March 12, 2007
Georgia Accuses Russia of Shelling Disputed Gorge
Georgia -- Abkhazia map (RFE/RL) TBILISI, March 12, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- Georgian authorities today accused Russian helicopters of firing rockets at two Georgian-controlled villages in the separatist region of Abkhazia, RFE/R's Georgian Service reports.
No injuries were reported in the incident, which reportedly took place late on March 11 in the Kodori Gorge.
The gorge, which Georgian officials call Upper Abkhazia, is the only part of Abkhazia still under Tbilisi's control.
Georgian Deputy Defense Minister Levan Nikoleishvili told a news briefing in Tbilisi the helicopters came from Russia.
"According to our information, helicopters indeed entered the territory of Upper Abkhazia, where the bombing took place, from Russian territory," said Nikoleishvili.
Abkhazia's separatist administration and the Russian air force denied involvement in the attack.
Georgia's Security Council today is holding a special meeting on the incident. President Mikheil Saakashvili is in attendance.
Abkhazia broke away from Georgia in the early 1990s and is ruled by Moscow-backed separatists. The Abkhaz government is not recognized internationally.
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