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RF and Mongolia to hold joint antiterrorist exercise

The headquarters of the exercise leadership and the management bodies, which are being trained, begins working on Thursday

MOSCOW, September 1 (Itar-Tass) —— The joint exercise of the Russian and Mongolian Armed Forces on combating terrorism Selenga-2011 will begin in the Eastern Military District (EMD) on Thursday.

As press secretary of the commander of EMD troops Igor Muginov told ITAR-TASS, “some 500 servicemen and up to 200 units of military and special equipment will be involved in the exercise from both sides. The exercise will be held in two stages: the first one - - on the range Burduny near the city of Kyakhta and the second - - at the training centre Tavan-Tolgoi in Mongolia.”

As Muginov explained, on Thursday, the headquarters of the exercise leadership and the management bodies, which are being trained, begins working on Thursday. “The transportation of military equipment of the sides’ troops to the exercise area will begin on September 3,” Muginov specified.

According to him, a motor-rifle company reinforced by a tank platoon and a company of material and technical support from the 36th EMD Army will be involved on the part of the Russian Armed Forces. Practical actions will be conducted with the use of T-72 tanks, BMP-2 armoured personnel carries, armoured tractors and other equipment. “It was planned to involve three Mi-24 helicopters, however, in connection with the Mi-24 crash in Primorye on August 26, their involvement remains undecided so far.

Commander of the 36th Army Major-General Vladimir Tsilko, as the press secretary added, was appointed leader of the exercise.

According to Muginov, an infantry battalion with attached mortar, field-engineer, antiaircraft and tank units will be involved in the exercise on the part of Mongolia. All of them use their own equipment and armaments. T-64 tanks, BMP-1 and BTR-2 armoured personnel carries, D-30 howitzers, Grad missile systems of salvo fire, three Mi-24 helicopters of Russian make and other armaments will be involved.

According to the exercise plot, as Muginov said, illegal armed formations, using the unstable situation in Mongolia, are trying to aggravate the situation in the country’s northern regions and at the same time are making attempts to capture a number of vitally important facilities - - oil wells, schools and TV centres there. Russia decides to render military aid to the neighbouring country. With this aim in view, it sends a grouping of Russian troops to Mongolia which jointly with Mongolian units is to restore public order, block and destroy bandit formations.

The Russian-Mongolian antiterrorist exercise Selenga -2011 is being held according to the plan of international military cooperation of the Russian Defence Ministry and will last until September 10.

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