MOD -- Georgian military serviceman died when enemy forces attacked the checkpoints. Sergeant Irakli Kordzaia was assigned to the 1st Division of the 13 Battalion of the 1st Infantry Brigade.

The incident took place in 8-10 km away from the Base CLEAR. The checkpoint known as “Sons of Iraq” was attacked on June 4th at 21:00.

Sergeant Irakli Kordzaia together with the guard of the 13 Battalion was moving from assaulted checkpoint when his operating base came under attack, during this operation died the Sergeant of the 13th Battalion of the 1st Infantry Brigade.

The Ministry of Defence of Georgia expresses its deep sorrow and condoles with family of the lost military personal. Sergeant Irakli Kordzaia will be conveyed to Georgia as soon as possible.

Funeral charges will be covered by the Ministry of Defence of Georgia. Indemnity in amount of 15 thousands GEL will be paid to the family of killed soldier.

Human Righs -- Twenty-four-year-old soldier Jambul Mgeladze died in Iraq. According to official information, he died in a car accident. Jambul Mgeladze was in the car with other four soldiers and only he died. According to the relatives the body of Jambul Mgeladze was not badly injured.

Mgeladze was a resident of the village of Zeniti in Kobuleti district. The Ministry of Defense informed the family of the soldier about this tragic accident. “The car accident happened on December 10 and we were informed ten days later,” said Manana Mgeladze, sister of the dead soldier. The body of the soldier was conveyed early in the morning the day before yesterday.

Relatives say that Jambul Mgeladze went to Iraq on March 27, 2007 because his financial situation was very bad. “He went to Iraq because we are very poor and he could assist us from there,” stated the family of the dead soldier.

Georgia Ministry of Defence -- Two Georgian soldiers who were supporting peacekeeping operations in Iraq have died.

Lieutenant Giorgi Margiev and Corporal Zurab Gvenetadze were assigned to the 13 Battalion of 1st Infantry Brigade. Junior Sergeant Tengiz Mirtskulava of above mentioned battalion was wounded.

The unpleasant incident took place in province Diyala, 35 km away from Baghdad on May 2. Georgian peacekeepers were moving from Base CLEAR for performing mission, when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

The wounded soldier was ambulated in Baghdad for rendering medical assistance. Killed servicemen will convey to Georgia as soon as possible.

Funeral charges will be covered by the Ministry of Defence of Georgia. Indemnity in amount of 15 thousands GEL will be paid to the families of killed soldiers as well.

Liberty Post -- The Georgian military suffered its first death in Iraq, the Defense Ministry announced on October 2.

26-year-old Zurab Choghoshvili, a corporal in the Logistical Battalion of the Third Infantry Brigade, reportedly committed suicide on September 30.

The suicide stemmed from personal issues, officials said, with no link to his service in Iraq.

Full details aren’t yet known, stated Defense Ministry spokeswoman Nana Intskirveli. Georgian police are carrying out an inquiry here, while US forces are cooperating with Georgian military police in Iraq.

“The body has not yet left Iraq, this will probably happen tomorrow. All we know is that he received some news from home shortly before he ended his life,” Intskirveli told the Messenger on Thursday.

Georgian troops have been stationed in Iraq since August 2003. Tbilisi began deploying another contingent in July 2007, boosting the total number from 850 to 2000. The new contingent is tasked with patrolling the porous Wasit province segment of the Iraq-Iran border.