Plane with Georgian Defense Minister Came Under Fire in Iraq

Georgian Defense Minister Davit Tevzadze told reporters upon his arrival in Tbilisi from Iraq that the plane carrying delegation of the Georgian Defense Ministry came under fire immediately after takeoff from the Baghdad airport.

“I was told about the incident later. I was sleeping,” Davit Tevzadze told reporters after he arrived in Tbilisi this morning. He added that the U.S. soldiers responded to the attack immediately.

The Defense Minister visited Iraq to inspect Georgian peacekeepers deployed in the town of Tikrit.

Georgian detachment of 70 mine-clearing experts and doctors are stationed in Iraq since last August.

Over 200 Georgian soldiers are preparing to relieve them soon, Georgian defense officials say. Georgia is also planning to send entire battalion of 500 soldiers to Iraq by the summer.

Georgian Defense Minister hailed performance of the Georgian peacekeepers in Iraq and said that the coalition forces are also satisfied with the Georgian contingent.