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| Nato to begin Georgia exercises | Nato to begin Georgia exercises |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Nato is to start a series of military exercises in Georgia, a day after the government thwarted an attempt by its own soldiers to stage a mutiny. | Nato is to start a series of military exercises in Georgia, a day after the government thwarted an attempt by its own soldiers to stage a mutiny. |
| Soldiers from 18 countries are taking part in the drills at a Georgian army base close to the capital, Tbilisi. | Soldiers from 18 countries are taking part in the drills at a Georgian army base close to the capital, Tbilisi. |
| But Russia has said the exercises amount to a provocation. | But Russia has said the exercises amount to a provocation. |
| They come just nine months after Russia's short war with Georgia and are taking place close to areas where Russian troops are stationed. | They come just nine months after Russia's short war with Georgia and are taking place close to areas where Russian troops are stationed. |
| More than 1,000 soldiers will take part in the exercises over a period of more than three weeks. | |
| For Georgia, which has been promised eventual Nato membership, they are a sign that, despite doubts over its candidate status after last year's war with Russia, it has not been forgotten. | |
| Russia views the exercises as a provocation and has turned down an invitation to send observers. | Russia views the exercises as a provocation and has turned down an invitation to send observers. |
| In recent days its security forces have officially begun patrolling the border between South Ossetia, the epicentre of last summer's conflict, and Georgia. | In recent days its security forces have officially begun patrolling the border between South Ossetia, the epicentre of last summer's conflict, and Georgia. |
| The Georgian government has repeatedly said Russia's actions are to blame for raising tension in the region. | The Georgian government has repeatedly said Russia's actions are to blame for raising tension in the region. |
| It also accuses Moscow of backing the mutiny at an army base on Tuesday and supporting an alleged coup plot. Russia has denied the allegations. | It also accuses Moscow of backing the mutiny at an army base on Tuesday and supporting an alleged coup plot. Russia has denied the allegations. |
| The Georgian government is hopeful that the Nato exercises will give it a chance to prove to its Western allies that it can host an important international event without further disturbances. | The Georgian government is hopeful that the Nato exercises will give it a chance to prove to its Western allies that it can host an important international event without further disturbances. |