MAJOR CLASH IN ABKHAZIA.

As many as thirteen Abkhaz troopers were reported killed yesterday when Georgian Forest Brothers guerrillas attacked an Abkhaz Internal Affairs Ministry post in the village of Repi, Gali district. According to this interim report, the guerrillas blew up the post and then exchanged fire with the Abkhaz unit. That unit was part of supplementary Abkhaz forces recently sent to Gali district in order to deal with the guerrilla challenge. (Tbilisi radio cited by Itar-Tass, May 18)

The Forest Brothers, who have only recently assumed a high profile, seem to act more professionally than the White Legion. Both groups seek to protect ethnic Georgians who filter back to their home villages in Abkhaz-controlled territory, slowly reversing the ethnic cleansing. For the last two years Tbilisi has in vain asked Moscow to assign its “peacekeeping” forces to protect the returning Georgians.

OSCE MEDIATORS REGISTER DEADLOCK ON THE KARABAKH CONFLICT.