Abkhazian leaders fear of provocations

Republican security agencies report that meetings in support of President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili are planned to be held in the Gali district. The Abkhazian State Security Service has reliable information that posters with pictures of Saakashvili and Georgian flags have been delivered to the Gali district.

Vice President Valery Arshba has convened a conference devoted to the situation in the Gali district bordering Georgia. Parliament Speaker Nugzar Ashuba, Prime Minister Raul Khadzhimba, Foreign Minister Sergey Shamba, heads of republican security agencies and the Gali district administration took part in the conference.

Prime Minister Raul Khadzhimba declared it was inadmissible that meetings similar to those held in Tbilisi and Batumi be held on the territory of the Gali district. "We don't want the situation in the republic to worsen and will do everything we can to preserve stability," the prime minister said. He did not rule out the possibility that the procedure for crossing the Georgian-Abkhazian border on the Ingur River could be toughened.

All the participants agreed to the opinion that in case the situation in the Gali district worsened, those suffering first from it would be Chechen refugees who had returned to their houses.