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Abkhazia does not believe attempt on Ankvab's life has a Georgian link

Officials believe that the crime in no way is linked with Georgia

SUKHUM, February 22 (Itar-Tass) —— Abkhazia does not believe that the attempt on the life of President Alexander Ankvab has any Georgian connection.

“This crime was obviously targeted against the president. This is not the first assassination attempt on him. This is the sixth attempt on his life, but we do not believe that it has any Georgian connection,” Abkhazian presidential spokesman Kristin Zhania told Itar-Tass on Wednesday.

The police interception plan was introduced in Abkhazia over the attempt on the life of President Alexander Ankvab. The helicopter gunships are involved in the search for the criminals, who reportedly escaped in the highlands, a source in the law enforcement agencies said on Wednesday.

The police reported that the blast went off at 08:30 Moscow time on the Gudauta-Sukhum highway on Wednesday morning. At first the land mine exploded on the highway, after that the presidential motorcade came under fire from grenade launchers and submachine guns. One car burnt down to ashes. Two presidential bodyguards died of wounds, another one was heavily injured.

The life of the president is out of danger.

The president is holding an urgent meeting with the chief law enforcers in the republic.

The detectives and operatives are working at the incident site. Interior Minister Otar Khetsia and Prosecutor General Safarbei Mikanba are staying at the incident site.

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