By empty (4/3/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The Georgian armed forces, if necessary, will be ready to take part in operations to restore the constitutional order in Ajaria, Georgian Defense Minister Gela Bezhuashvili said at a press briefing in Tbilisi on Saturday. While commenting on Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili\'s recent statement about the armed forces\' readiness to curb all manifestations of separatism in Ajaria, he said that \"the armed forces have participated in anti-criminal operations jointly with the police on many occasions.\" \"In Ajaria we are witnessing criminal manifestations and violations of the constitution,\" said Bezhuashvili.

By empty (4/3/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Uzbekistan has sought information about its citizens arrested during operation by Pakistani military against the al-Qaeda suspects in the tribal region, bordering Afghanistan. “We have received a communication from the Uzbek embassy in Islamabad and Pakistani embassy in Uzbekistan, to provide the details of the people of Uzbek origin arrested during the operation,” Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan said. Pakistan military says that around 167 militants, including Uzbek nationals have been arrested in the last month major military operation in South Waziristan tribal region against foreign militants and those sheltering them.

By empty (4/2/2004 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Georgian State Security Ministry officials have detained a group of people suspected of planning an attack on Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgian Deputy State Security Minister Gigi Ugulava told a news conference on Friday. \"A group of assassins was sent to Tbilisi by highly placed officials in the Ajarian Interior Ministry and Security Ministry,\" he said. The four people were sent to Tbilisi \"to study the [Georgian] president\'s routes,\" he said.