US soldiers train Georgians in 'anti-terrorism'

US soldiers have begun operations in the former Soviet republic of Georgia to train the country’s army in tactics to use against Islamic militants fighting for independence in the Pankisi Gorge.

18 US soldiers arrived in Tbilisi today in the first phase of a deployment of 150 special operations troops.

The €70m training programme is the latest stage in US President George W Bush’s “war on terrorism”.

US officials believe the Muslim fighters defending the Pankisi Gorge could be linked to Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden.