Georgia has sent troops to the Kodori gorge at the border between government-held territory and the breakaway republic of Abkhazia following a flare-up of fighting in the area, Defense Minister David Tevzadze said Thursday.
"Our primary duty is to ensure the safety of our people and to prevent incidents like those that happened two days ago," Tevzadze said, referring to air strikes by unmarked planes that pounded the mountainous area Tuesday.
Both Abkhazia and Georgia said their territories had been bombed by planes and helicopters, with Abkhazia blaming Georgia and Tbilisi accusing Russian planes of launching air raids against Georgian villages near its "border" with Abkhazia.
"To ensure security and defend the Kodori gorge's Georgian population, regular units of Georgia's army have been sent there," the minister added.
Defense ministry officials confirmed to AFP that the troops had already left for the gorge area, adding that until now, Georgia had no military presence in the region.
Fierce fighting erupted this week between Abkhaz forces and guerrillas in the breakaway region, whom Abkhaz leaders claim are supported by Tbilisi.
Abkhaz forces Wednesday killed six Chechen guerrillas and captured two fighters, who claimed that an envoy of Georgian President Eduard Shevarnadze was among the guerrillas who infiltrated into Abkhazia.
The detained fighters also claimed they had been trained and equipped at the Georgian state security ministry base and then transported to Abkhazia on helicopters belonging to the Georgian Defense Ministry -- TBILISI (AFP)
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