MOSCOW. March 16 (Interfax-AVN) - Units of the Defense Ministry and other law-enforcement agencies of the self- proclaimed republic of South Ossetia have been ordered to stay in barracks, Secretary of the South Ossetian National Security Council Jemal Karkusov said on Tuesday.
"As the tensions are rising around Ajaria, South Ossetian leaders have ordered all military formations of the republic to stay in barracks," Karkusov told Interfax-Military News Agency by phone.
"What is happening around Ajaria may as well happen in South Ossetia, especially given that Georgia's new authorities have already distinguished themselves by militant rhetoric in relation to our republic," he said.
According to Karkusov, the National Security Council will hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday "to discuss measures aimed at preventing any excesses between South Ossetia and Georgia."
"The Mixed Peacekeeping Forces in the Georgian-Ossetian conflict zone are discharging their duties as stipulated by the mandate, and South Ossetian leaders maintain permanent contact with the command of the forces," he said.