Shangdong province: Trial of lawyer involved in denouncing extensive use of violence by authorities of Linyi in implementation of birth planning policy to open soon; he was reportedly charged with “deliberate destruction of property” and “organising a mob to disrupt traffic”
South Ossetia and Abkhazia: Russian government sees decision of Georgian parliament calling for the removal of Russian peacekeepers from both regions inconsequential; some observers say withdrawal means the resumption of a civil war in Georgia