January 15, 2002	Tuesday	Shawwal 30, 1422

TBILISI, Jan 14: Georgian President Edward Shevardnadze said on Monday he did not want Russian peacekeeping troops to leave the separatist region of Abkhazia unless they were replaced by United Nations forces.

“I am categorically against their withdrawal as long as the UN has not decided to replace them.

“This could lead to a bloodbath,” Shevardnadze told a news conference.

But the Georgian leader said that a resolution passed by the Georgian parliament in October demanding the withdrawal of Russian forces had “played a positive role” in persuading Russia to “change its position on Abkhazia’s status inside Georgia”.—AFP