Georgian forces battle rebels

Georgian forces captured most of a strategic gorge yesterday, despite Russian fears the assault on the rebellious stronghold could reignite conflict in the neighbouring breakaway region of Abkhazia.

The clashes in Kodori gorge - a gateway to the Black Sea province of Abkhazia which has enjoyed de facto independence since 1993 - alarmed Abkhaz separatists, suspicious of any government military build-up in the area.

At least two servicemen were slightly wounded, said President Mikhail Saakashvili's chief of staff.

Russia, its peacekeepers in the area on high alert, warned its ex-Soviet neighbour against violating the ceasefire that ended the conflict in which Abkhazia broke away.

Part of the gorge is controlled by Abkhaz separatists, while the northern part had been under government control through the local Monadire (Hunter) militia leader Emzar Kvitsiani.

But on Sunday, Mr Kvitsiani declared he would no longer obey Tbilisi. Troops now face up to 70 heavily armed Kvitsiani supporters, Chief of Staff Georgy Arveladze said.

"The anti-criminal operation is going on with great success," said Mr Arveladze, adding that almost all villages in the gorge had been taken.

"Kvitsiani has gone into hiding, but police units have blocked all roads and are trying not to let him escape into Abkhazia."

In the 1990s Mr Kvitsiani's militia played a key role in preventing Abkhazia seizing the northern part of the gorge.

But Mr Saakashvili, whose troops have been trained by US instructors, tried to dissolve the militia in 2005 as part of his drive to establish direct control over all of the country.

The gorge was one of the routes Georgian troops took in a failed bid to establish control over Abkhazia in 1992-93.