STOP NATO: ¡NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------- ListBot Sponsor -------------------------- Sopranos fanatics, this one is for you. Tony Soprano's autographed Suburban is available for purchase on eBayTM. James Gandolfini has personally signed the vehicle. Find this and over 800 other Sopranos items for sale on eBay. http://www.bcentral.com/listbot/ebay ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [Georgia: NATO's assault troops in the Caucasus.] Abkhazian People Block Russian Base's Compound, Prevent Withdrawal MOSCOW, Jul 17, 2001 -- (Military News Agency) Residents of the Abkhazian town of Gudauta once again blocked the roads from the military compound of the 10th paratrooper regiment which was the basis of the 50th Russian military base, a spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry told the Military News Agency on Monday. The residents do not allow to remove the base's equipment and personnel and claim that people's posts would remain at the site on Tuesday as well. Up to 13,000 people going from Abkhazia pass Russian border guard posts daily, the spokesman said. The local population is extremely concerned over constant attacks of sabotage groups from Georgia at Abkhazian villages, especially in the Kodori gorge. Particularly, five local residents were killed there on Sunday and four more were captured. The withdrawal of the base means for locals the renewal of military clashes with Georgia. Currently the base has 150 armored combat vehicles, including APCs and IFVs, almost 10 large-caliber artillery systems, and a battalion with six Buk surface-to-air missile systems which are capable of eliminating air targets at ranges from 3 kilometers to 32 kilometers at the altitudes from 15 meters to 22 kilometers. In accordance with the Istanbul agreement the Georgian party obliged to provide safe and secure withdrawal of Russian troops though the Georgian leadership has never negotiated with Abkhazia on solution of the problem, the spokesman said. The Georgian party did not agree with the OSCE about the payment for Russian military equipment scrapping if a positive decision on the matter is made. The 12th base located in Batumi and 62nd base located in Akhalkalaki number almost 2,000 Russian officers and enlisted men each, 40 T-72 tanks each, 270 and 160 armored combat vehicles respectively and 70 large-caliber artillery systems each. (C) 2001 Military News Agency __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ ______________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
