Georgia - UN observers in hostage drama
(21 Feb 1998) T/I: 11:18:23 - A2 T/I: 11:05:53 - E4 Troops in western Georgia were on high alert on Saturday (21/02) with fears of more attacks as a tense hostage drama involving UN observers dragged on for a third day. Russian peace-keeping troops ringed the headquarters of the UN mission in the town of Zugdidi, where hostages were seized after it was shelled on Wednesday. Around 20 heavily armed gunmen were holding up to 10 hostages seized at the UN mission at a farmhouse hostage in the village of Jikhashkari, 18 kilometres from Zugdidi. The hostages include four UN observers - two Uraguayans, a Czech and a Swede - their Georgian driver and five other civilians. The gunmen, who support former Georgian president Zviad Gamsakhurdia, have threatened to kill hostages if Georgian authorities do not release members of their organisation. Seven were arrested after an assassination attempt on President Eduard Shevardnadze on February 9. SHOWS: ZUGDIDI, GEORGIA. 21/2 WS UN HQ Zugdidi, UN officers exit; CU UN flag; UN landrover drives off; WS Russian tank on street; Russian soldiers sitting on tank; MS Russian soldier standing on street; CU machine gun; CU Russian soldier sitting on tank; WS two Russian soldiers exit UN building; CU machine gun in hands of soldier; CU soldier; inside - CA of bullet proof vest; SOT deputy UN chief Zugdidi Peter Hodel in ENGLISH: "All these negotiations happen on the level of the Georgian government and we are assisting where we can. But it's a political discussion and we are not directly involved." WS Georgian armed with machine guns on Zugdidi street; CU Georgian policeman; Georgian special forces (in red berets) line street at checkpoint; CU two Georgian special forces soldiers; more Georgian soldiers; car pulls up at checkpoint; CU soldiers check inside of boot; CU soldier checking driver's ID; van drives off; camera driving past soldiers lining street; 2.25 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
