Saakashvili Explains Arms Caches

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili

TBILISI -- Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili says arms caches found in the western province of Samegrelo last week were created after the brief war with Russia in August 2008.

Saakashvili told journalists on June 23 that he had ordered the hiding of the secret arms stores as part of a defense plan in case of a renewed military conflict with Russia.

Georgian police arrested nine suspects last week, including a Defense Ministry official and two former police officers, in connection with the caches.

The Interior Ministry said authorities had found weapons, explosives, drugs, and documents targeting opponents of Saakashvili's party.

The ministry also announced that videos showing sexual abuse and the torture of unnamed individuals by law-enforcement officials were discovered.

Saakashvili said that he doubted the videotapes were found along with the arms.

With reporting by civil.ge