In pictures: Ajaria stand-off

1 of 6 Tensions are simmering in Georgia, after Ajaria's leader Aslan Abashidze ordered bridges to be blown up that link his rebel region with the rest of the country.

2 of 6 Ajarians say the move is self-defence against Georgian troops who last week held training exercises on the Ajaria border.

3 of 6 Tbilisi rejected Mr Abashidze's claims that it planned to invade to bring the region back into line.

4 of 6 The Georgian military said most of around 2,000 troops involved in the exercises had returned to base.

5 of 6 Georgia's President Mikhail Saakashvili gave Mr Abashidze 10 days to meet a string of demands, including disarming.

6 of 6 Many locals fear the situation could lead to yet another civil war in Georgia.