Georgia says foils rebellion, accuses Russia

MUKHROVANI, Georgia: Georgia said it put down a mutiny at a military base yesterday and accused Moscow of financing a coup on the eve of NATO war games in the former Soviet republic.

Russia, which fought a war with Georgia last year, denied any involvement and said President Mikheil Saakashvili was trying to shift the blame for his domestic problems.

Georgia's opposition said the incident was "a show" to deflect attention from protests against the president.