Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze declared a state of emergency Wednesday in the east of the troubled republic bordering Chechnya, accusing "foreign secret services" of destabilizing the region.
"I have signed a decree authorizing a state of emergency in Kakhetia," Shevardnadze told a cabinet meeting, a presidential spokesman said.
The border region had witnessed "very many acts of organised crime, which other countries' secret services could be behind," Shevardnadze added.
The Kakhetia region includes the remote Pankiyski gorge, where Russia claims around 1,500 Chechen rebels are based, and where two Spanish businessmen kidnapped last week are thought to be held hostage -- TBILISI (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
