LONDON (AFP) - Joint military training exercises by Georgian and British forces next month could be cancelled depending on how the South Ossetia crisis develops, the Ministry of Defence has said. ADVERTISEMENT "We'll have to keep an eye on the situation," an MoD spokesman said when asked about the planned two-week exercises in the ex-Soviet republic.
"Whether or not it's cancelled depends on the situation itself," he added, declining to speculate further.
The joint exercises -- dubbed Georgian Express 2008 -- are due to be held at the Vaziani base near the capital Tbilisi, according to Georgia's defence ministry cited by the RIA Novosti news agency.
Georgia would be represented by its Special Operations Brigade and the 43th battalion of the 4th Infantry Brigade, while 180 British soldiers are due to take part, the agency said.
They would practise joint activities in peacekeeping operations, as well as urban warfare, the agency said. The MoD spokesman declined to give more details.
The European Union, United States and NATO have all called for an immediate end to violence in South Ossetia which has been ravaged by bombardments and bloody clashes between Russian and Georgian troops.
Poster Comment:
Now that Georgian troops (Israel/AmeriKan/NATO advisors on board) have taken control of 70%+ of South Ossetia, the EU/AmeriKa want an 'immediate end to violence'. LOL