This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/8033366.stm

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Georgia 'uncovers military coup' Georgian troops 'launch mutiny'
(41 minutes later)
Georgia has uncovered an attempted military coup, the country's defence minister says. A mutiny has broken out at a military base near the capital of Georgia, the government says.
David Sikharulidze said the rebellion was centred around the Mukhrovani military base. It came after officials said they had uncovered a coup plot - linked to Russia and aimed at assassinating President Mikhail Saakashvili.
It was not immediately clear whether the supposed coup had already been launched, or whether the government had just disrupted an alleged plot. Russia described the charge as "delirium", a news agency said.
The announcement was made just a day before controversial Nato military exercises are due to begin in Georgia. Georgia's defence minister said the rebels meant to disrupt Nato military exercises due to start in Georgia on Wednesday.
Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev has condemned Nato for planning military exercises in a country "where there was just a war".
Georgia and Russia have poisonous relations, and fought a war over Georgia's breakaway territory of South Ossetia last August.
'Plotter at large'
The mutiny at the Mukhrovani base erupted on Tuesday morning.
The soldiers were aiming at "disrupting Nato exercises and overturning the authorities militarily", David Sikharulidze told Georgian television.
"The rebellion continues. Law enforcement agents are on the scene," Mr Sikharulidze said.
The mutiny broke out as the government announced it had disrupted a coup plot.
The interior ministry told the BBC that the plotters wanted to destabilise Georgia and assassinate President Mikhail Saakashvili.The interior ministry told the BBC that the plotters wanted to destabilise Georgia and assassinate President Mikhail Saakashvili.
A spokesman said there had been one arrest, but that the leader of the plot - a former chief of special forces - was still at large.A spokesman said there had been one arrest, but that the leader of the plot - a former chief of special forces - was still at large.
The spokesman said the government had been aware of the plot for two months.The spokesman said the government had been aware of the plot for two months.
"It was aimed at disrupting the Nato military exercises and an attempt at a military coup," Defence Minister Sikharulidze told Georgian TV. The rebellion appeared to be "co-ordinated with Russia", the interior ministry said.
An interior ministry spokesman said the rebellion appeared to be "co-ordinated with Russia". But Russia's Itar-Tass news agency cited a source in Russia's security services describing the coup plot allegations as the "delirium and agony of the Saakashvili regime".
Georgia and Russia have poisonous relations, and fought a war over Georgia's breakaway territory of South Ossetia last August.
Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev has condemned Nato for planning military exercises in a country "where there was just a war".