MOSCOW/TSKHINVALI. Sept 28 (Interfax-AVN) - Sappers from the Joint Peacekeeping Forces in the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone have defused a powerful improvised explosive device not far from a peacekeeping outpost near the village of Kekhli, South Ossetian press and information committee chief Irina Gagloyeva told Interfax-Military News Agency by telephone from Tskhinvali on Tuesday.
"The improvised explosive device was made of nearly 100 kilos of ammonal contained in three sacks," Gagloyeva said.
The sacks were found by soldiers from the Russian peacekeeping battalion.
"Wires running along the bank of the River Liakhli towards territory controlled by Georgian forces were connected to the explosives," Gagloyeva said.
The explosive device and the wires were camouflaged well, Gagloyeva said. "An explosion could result in numerous casualties, because Georgian passenger transport regularly moves near Kekhli," she said.
South Ossetia is legally a province of Georgia, but a conflict in the 1990s led to its de facto independence. Tensions between Tbilisi and Tskhinvali have escalated recently, involving armed clashes, as Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has stepped up efforts to restore control over South Ossetia. The peacekeeping forces deployed in the conflict zone include Russian, Georgian, and South Ossetian battalions of 500 servicemen each.