Russians, U.S. Helping Oust Rebels, Leader Says
Georgian President Eduard A. Shevardnadze, under pressure from Moscow to clear Chechen rebels from a remote gorge, said U.S. and Russian forces were helping in an operation to oust them.
Shevardnadze said the operation to remove the anti-Russian rebels from the Pankisi Gorge would be complete within 15 days.
“The representatives of Russian special services are in Pankisi.... Their Georgian colleagues are helping them. U.S. representatives are also present,” he said. Dozens of U.S. military trainers are in Georgia to help improve the nation’s ragged army.
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