TBILISI. Oct 21 (Interfax-AVN) - Georgian State Security Minister Valery Khaburdzania has not ruled out a possible military operation against separate Chechen rebel groups reportedly hiding in forests on the border with Russia.
The minister made his comment on reports published in Time magazine that Arab mercenaries are allegedly hiding in the Pankisi Gorge and that Georgian special services allegedly detained and handed over to the United States two al-Qaeda terrorists. According to the reports, they have been sent to the U.S. base at Guantanamo.
Khaburdzania declined to elaborate further.
He said that Georgian security officials have not concealed and will not conceal the fact that small separate rebels groups are hiding near the border.
"Whether a military operation will take place or not will depend on how many rebels are concentrated in the area," Khaburdzania said. He noted that a large-scale operation is unlikely.
The minister fully ruled out the return of rebels to the Pankisi Gorge. "Interior Ministry troops deployed there will not allow this," he said.