Russia Accuses Georgia Politicians of Terror Links

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, September 27, 2002

Russia Accuses Georgia Politicians of Terror Links

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Following fierce clashes between Russian troops and Chechen rebels, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov repeated here on Thursday that Moscow reserved the right of self-defense and accused some Georgian politicians of having links with terrorists.

Ivanov repeated Russia's pledge to make preventive strikes on Georgian territory if Tbilisi fails to prevent cross-border attacks on the Russian territory.

"If we see that terrorists have crossed the Russian-Georgian border or are preparing to do so, we will not wait around for them to commit crimes," Ivanov told a news conference at the end of a two-day visit to Poland that included meeting NATO defense ministers in Warsaw on Wednesday.

At the same time, the minister stressed that Russia, a member of the United Nations, would act within the international law.

"We do not covet Georgian territory, or its sovereignty The only thing we want is to get security guarantees so that these kind of things do not happen again." Ivanov said.

Fierce fighting erupted early on Thursday between a large groupof Chechen rebels and Russian troops and police near the village of Galashki in Ingushetia, bordering Chechnya.

Some 76 gunmen were killed in the battle, while Russia lost twelve servicemen, including two pilots whose Mi-24 helicopter was shot down by a portable anti-craft missile.

Under increasing pressure from Russia, Georgia sent troops intothe Pankisi Gorge on August 25, 2002 in a bid to eliminate terrorists and criminals and restore order in the mountainous area.

But Moscow said the operation has not been effective. The two sides in recent months have traded accusations over Georgia's Pankisi Gorge, bordering on Russia's rebellious region of Chechnya. Moscow regards it as a base used by Chechen rebels and international terrorists for cross-border attacks on the Russian territory.

It is the first visit to Poland by a Russian defense minister in 11 years. Ivanov held talks with Poland's President Aleksander Kwasniewski, Prime Minister Leszek Miller and Defense Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski.

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