Georgian President warns of war with Russia

AFP | August 24 2004

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has reportedly said war with Russia is close and it is necessary to prepare the people of Georgia for such an eventuality.

"We are very close to a war (with Russia), the population must be prepared," he told the Liberation newspaper.

Denouncing military aid from Russia to rebels in Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia, Mr Saakashvili stressed that he had "no intention of provoking [a war]".

He also called for an international conference to discuss the status of South Ossetia.

"Russia says it is opposed to this but I think its position is evolving," he said.

Georgia pulled troops back from the separatist pro-Moscow region last week after an unprecedented show of force that infuriated Russia and worried Washington.

South Ossetia falls within Georgian borders but is inhabited mainly by ethnic Ossetians.

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