OSCE Mission condemns shooting incident in Georgia's Kvemo Khviti area

TBILISI, 10 December 2008 - The Head of the OSCE Mission to Georgia, Ambassador Terhi Hakala, condemned today's shooting by unknown assailants at an OSCE monitoring patrol near the administrative border of South Ossetia.

The routine patrol, travelling in a armoured vehicle clearly identified with the letters "OSCE", came under fire after two unidentified men in camouflage uniform emerged from bushes close to the track and began shooting with sub-machine guns. The incident took place west of Kvemo Khviti and east of the administrative border line. There were no OSCE casualties.

"I strongly condemn and deplore this serious attack on unarmed military monitoring officers," said Hakala. "The details of this unacceptable incident are being looked into carefully."

Hakala noted that the appropriate parties had been notified of the incident.

"This is another regrettable reminder of the urgent need to improve the security situation in the area and the OSCE continues to devote all efforts to this issue," said Hakala.