Friday, September 29 06

Confrontation looms between Georgia and Russia as arrested Russian officers face trial in Tbilisi. A report by International Alert (IA) on E.U. foreign policy options for peacebuilding in south Caucasus, and an International Crisis Group (ICG) policy paper on the rationale for a get-tough E.U. stance against Uzbekistan's Karimov regime post-Andijan. U.N. Secretary General Annan reports to UN Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa on progress and fragility in across central Africa. Militant groups are rising fast in Nigerian oil-rich regions. Thailand junta keeps promise to transfer power within weeks, but nevertheless appoints retired military man Surayud as interim 'caretaker prime minister'.