ADZHARIA: ARMS SURRENDER DEADLINE OVER, MIDNIGHT

TBILISI, May 16 (RIA Novosti) - Adzharia, recalcitrant autonomy in Georgia, crossed a deadline for surrender of arms in illegal possession, last midnight. Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili announced his ultimatum to Adzhar paramilitary separatists to vouch them pardon and safety a week ago, when rebellious republican President Aslan Abashidze was forced to step down, and President Saakashvili decreed republican presidency abolished.

The week has brought a solid stock of weaponry. Radical action is starting today, warns David Glonti, Adzhar Interior Minister. Police will recur to all kinds of action from peace talks to raids, he said to newsmen.

Criminal files will be opened since today on all who have not laid down unauthorised arms, Georgi Baramidze, Georgia's Interior Minister, said to the media.

The week brought to police stations more than 2,600 automatics, many grenade-launchers, missiles, land mines and an impressive arsenal of other arms and munitions of a total 48 kinds.

A 3,000-strong Interior force remains deployed in Adzharia to maintain law and order, and patrol the bigger towns.

Militants from among Aslan Abashidze's close supporters have gathered in guerrilla units hiding in the woodland, report Georgian police PR.