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Georgian troop rebellion 'over' Georgian troop rebellion 'over'
(about 2 hours later)
A mutiny at a military base near Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, is over, the Georgian interior minister says.A mutiny at a military base near Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, is over, the Georgian interior minister says.
Vano Merabishvili said the commander of the Mukhrovani base where a tank battalion mutined had been arrested and others were being questioned. Vano Merabishvili said the commander of the Mukhrovani base where a tank battalion mutinied had been arrested and others were being questioned.
Tbilisi said earlier it was part of a Russia-linked coup attempt to kill President Mikhail Saakashvili.Tbilisi said earlier it was part of a Russia-linked coup attempt to kill President Mikhail Saakashvili.
Russia's envoy to Nato described the charges as "mad". The trouble comes a day before Nato exercises in Georgia.Russia's envoy to Nato described the charges as "mad". The trouble comes a day before Nato exercises in Georgia.
Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev has condemned Nato for planning military exercises in a country "where there was just a war".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.Georgia and Russia have poisonous relations, and fought a war over Georgia's breakaway territory of South Ossetia last August.
In a separate development, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he would not attend a planned meeting of the Nato-Russia Council later this month following the alliance's expulsion of two Russian diplomats last week.In a separate development, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he would not attend a planned meeting of the Nato-Russia Council later this month following the alliance's expulsion of two Russian diplomats last week.
They were expelled reportedly in retaliation for a spy scandal involving an Estonian official.They were expelled reportedly in retaliation for a spy scandal involving an Estonian official.
Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer expressed regret at Mr Lavrov's decision.Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer expressed regret at Mr Lavrov's decision.
'Plotter at large' Saakashvili's address
The mutiny at the Mukhrovani base, some 30km (20 miles) from Tbilisi, erupted on Tuesday morning, when soldiers began disobeying orders, Georgian officials said. In a statement, the Georgian interior ministry said that the attempted mutiny at the Mukhrovani base, some 30km (20 miles) from Tbilisi, had failed and the situation had been brought under control.
Insecurity haunts Nato/Russia ties It's over - most of the people have surrendered... There was no violence Shota UtiashviliInterior Ministry spokesman Insecurity haunts Nato/Russia ties
The statement came after negotiations between government officials and troops at the base.
"It's over. Most of the people have surrendered, including the commander of the battalion. A few people have escaped," spokesman Shota Utiashvili told the AFP news agency.
"There was no violence," he said.
At the entrance to Mukhrovani, bus loads of soldiers and other official military vehicles were seen leaving, the BBC's Tom Esslemont reports from just outside the base.
Our correspondent says that Mr Saakashvili also left the base shortly after the alleged mutiny ended, though an interior ministry spokesman denied that the president had taken part in the negotiations to end the mutiny.
In a televised address later on Tuesday, Mr Saakashvili described the mutiny as a "serious threat", but added that it was an isolated incident.
"The plan was to stage a large-scale mutiny in Tbilisi and to take steps against the sovereignty of Georgia and the Georgian government's European and Euro-Atlantic integration."
Mr Saakashvili also demanded that Russia "refrain from provocations".
It is still not clear how many officers may have been involved in the events at Mukhrovani.
The mutiny erupted on Tuesday morning, when soldiers began disobeying orders, Georgian officials said.
The soldiers were aiming at "disrupting Nato exercises and overturning the authorities militarily", Georgian Defence Minister David Sikharulidze told Georgian television.The soldiers were aiming at "disrupting Nato exercises and overturning the authorities militarily", Georgian Defence Minister David Sikharulidze told Georgian television.
It was not immediately known how many soldiers took part in the mutiny. The rebellion began as the government announced it had disrupted a coup plot.
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 Saakashvili.The interior ministry told the BBC that the plotters wanted to destabilise Georgia and assassinate President Saakashvili.
Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said one of the suspected coup leaders - former special forces commander Georgy Gvaladze - was arrested. But the alleged co-plotter - former chief of special forces Koba Otanadze - was still at large. Mr Utiashvili said one of the suspected coup leaders - former special forces commander Georgy Gvaladze - was arrested. But the alleged co-plotter - former chief of special forces Koba Otanadze - 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.
The rebellion appeared to be "co-ordinated with Russia", the interior ministry said.The rebellion appeared to be "co-ordinated with Russia", the interior ministry said.
'Distracting attention'
But Dmitry Rogozin, Moscow's ambassador at military alliance, said the mutiny in Georgia was the result of "crazy politics of President Saakashvili".But Dmitry Rogozin, Moscow's ambassador at military alliance, said the mutiny in Georgia was the result of "crazy politics of President Saakashvili".
In a separate development, opposition protests are continuing in Tbilisi.In a separate development, opposition protests are continuing in Tbilisi.
The demonstrators say they plan to block three main roads into the capital later on Tuesday.The demonstrators say they plan to block three main roads into the capital later on Tuesday.
Opposition parties say the alleged mutiny was a deliberate attempt by the government to distract attention from a new phase of anti-government protests.