15 March 2004, 20:54
Batumi citizens start leaving
Citizens of Batumi, the capital of Adjaria, are fleeing from the city, reported the Rustavi 2 TV channel. People are crossing the automobile bridge across the Choloki River (Adjaria's administrative border) and moving towards the adjoining Potiysky district, Western Georgia.
"We are going where it is peaceful and calm. There is no peace here," some refugees told journalists at the administrative border.
On March 15, machine guns appeared on the roofs of buildings in Batumi. Several of them were located on the roof of the Meskheti hotel, Rustavi 2 reports.
According to the TV channel, the Batumi road police department is handing out guns to people.
The checkpoint at the Choloki River is guarded by task forces of Adjaria's law-enforcement structures numbering about 400 people and a few armored vehicles.
Editors note: See also the articles "State of emergency introduced in Adjaria", "Georgian president rules out use of force to assume control over Adjaria".
Source: Novosti-Gruzia Information Agency
