Russia calls for UN Council session on Georgia

UNITED NATIONS, Sep 28 (Reuters) Russia called for emergency UN Security Council consultations today over the arrest in Georgia of four Russian army officers accused of spying, a spokeswoman said.

The council has scheduled a session behind closed doors late in the afternoon, said Maria Zaharova, spokeswoman for the Russian mission to the United Nations.

''The situation in Georgia becomes worse and worse and has to be discussed in the Security Council,'' Ms Zaharova told Reuters.

She said the request came from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, now in Sakhalin in Russia's far east.

Georgian police and guards on Wednesday surrounded the regional headquarters of Russian troops in the capital Tbilisi and arrested four Russian army intelligence officers. Ms Zaharova said a fifth Russian officer was accused of spying but was not detained.

Georgia announced that more than ten Georgian citizens were also arrested and Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili told journalists there was proof of a spy network, releasing video footage purporting to show the officers conspiring with Georgian citizens. One showed an exchange of money.

Russia recalled its ambassador from Georgia today over the arrests and ordered the evacuation of some official personnel, inflaming tensions between the two countries.

The crisis comes after months of deteriorating relations between Georgia and its giant neighbor. Moscow dislikes President Mikhail Saakashvili and his pro-Western policies, including joining NATO.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov denounced Georgia's action as a ''complete outrage.'' He said a Russian officer and six soldiers had also been beaten in a separate incident in the Black Sea port of Batumi.

REUTERS BDP RK2256