Russia's Foreign Ministry condemns Georgian TV war hoax

 Saturday's mock war report on Georgian television was a provocation which raised the degree of tension in the Caucasus and damaged security and stability of the region, Foreign Ministry's spokesman Andrei Nestrerenko said Monday.  Moscow hopes that the European monitors who are now working in Georgia will objectively assess the incident, he said.  

Saturday's program by Georgia's Imedi channel was a mock play-out of a scenario in which Russia stages a blitz military invasion of Georgia and President Saakashvili is physically eliminated. Only a single subdued phrase told the viewers that the show was not for real. Panic broke out, sending people packing and causing acute heart complaints.