War inevitable, Adjarian chief fears

Aslan Abashidze, leader of the Adjarian Autonomous Republic, expressed strong doubt today that he can reach any sort of understanding with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili. The Adjarian chief made the statement while flying to Batumi from Moscow, a Rosbalt correspondent reported.

'He is mad, literally mad!' Abashidze said of Saakashvili. 'He's been put there to blow up the Caucasus.'

The Adjarian leader said war in the Caucasus was now unavoidable. 'He can't turn back at this point,' Abashidze said of Saakashvili. 'This is a terrible disgrace, and everybody knows it.'

A source in the Adjarian leader's entourage told Rosbalt: 'If Saakashvili starts the bloodletting, we will immediately declare our removal from Georgia.'