Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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May 5, 2009

Mutiny Attempt 'Under Control' Says Georgia's President
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=240EDF3:A6F02AD83191E160D5D366655B1A270998CBE7246176B735&
 
Mikheil Saakashvili says government is taking rebellion seriously but it
is an isolated incident 
Georgia's president, Mikheil Saakashvili, says a mutiny in a tank
battalion based near Tbilisi is now under control. He says the
government is taking the rebellion seriously, but that it is an isolated
incident. Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili gives a
news conference in Tbilisi, 05 May 2009Earlier Tuesday, Georgia's
Defense Ministry said a rebellion aimed at overthrowing the government
was under way at a base outside the capital. Officials said the uprising
was backed by Russia. Georgia said the uprising was an attempt to
disrupt NATO military exercises in the country set to begin Wednesday
Last month Moscow urged NATO to postpone military exercises in Georgia,
but NATO refused to delay the military drills. NATO said the exercises
were planned last year. The drills will be aimed at improving
coordination between NATO members and their partner countries and will
involve 1,300 troops from 19 countries Russia sees neighboring Georgia
as part of its sphere of!
  influence and sent troops into the country after Georgians tried to
retake the breakaway South Ossetia region last year. 

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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