GEORGIA REFUTES REPORTS ON POSSIBLE SPECIAL OPERATION AGAINST ADZHARIA

POTI, GEORGIA, May 2 (RIA Novosti) - Another highway bridge was demolished this afternoon in Adzharia's township Dzhikhashkari. It had crossed the Choloki river, administrative border of Georgia and Adzharia. The news reached the media in Poti, Georgian Black Sea port (western Georgia), from Vano Merabishvili, Georgia's National Security Council Secretary.

Another two bridges were demolished earlier this day on a highway that links the autonomy with Georgia's centre.

The demolition orders came from the Adzharian authorities and personally republican leader Aslan Abashidze, says Mr. Merabishvili.

"The Georgian armed forces' current exercises in the vicinity of Poti has frightened Abashidze to the point of agony. We had no intention whatsoever to make a special operation against Adzharian authorities," said Merabishvili.

He also pointed out that the "Georgian central leadership is determined to have the bridges rebuilt, though that will be a hard job." The Adzharian authorities refuse to admit journalists to the republic, and have banned television programme receptions from Tbilisi.

Adzharia has concentrated a rapid deployment force, republican Interior Ministry commandos, snipers and heavy military vehicles along its Choloki bank. The Kobuleti-Tsikhisdziri railway has been dismantled, added Vano Merabishvili.

Bridge demolition was a criminal act, and Georgia will act on Adzharian leaders with the utmost toughness, warns parliament's speaker Nino Burdzhanadze.