14:31, 15 December 2003

Georgian Interior Minister: situation in Pankisi Gorge may worsen

Georgian Interior Minister Georgy Baramidze has said the situation in the Pankisi Gorge is currently stable and is fully controlled by the law enforcement agencies.

However, "there is a chance that the situation could worsen, as a cache with a large amount of ammunition has recently been found in the gorge," Mr. Baramidze said after inspecting interior forces' checkpoints in the village of Duisi in the Pankisi Gorge on Sunday, December 14.

Several days ago, the police found a depot with 84 unguided antitank missiles apparently left by Chechen guerillas in a forest near the village of Khalatsani.

Commenting on the criminal situation in Georgia in general, Mr. Baramidze said, "The law enforcement agencies are in fact working in a combat atmosphere."

Source: Interfax News Agency