FARISH RANGE, Uzbekistan, September 23 (RIA Novosti) - The first Russian-Uzbek joint antiterrorist military exercise ended in central Uzbekistan Friday.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov and his Uzbek counterpart, Kadyr Gulomov, oversaw the exercise, which involved 200 Uzbek and 200 Russian troops, with air support and artillery.
At the first stage, Russia's airborne and Uzbek special forces conducted a joint operation to eliminate a forward terrorist group that had entered Uzbekistan from another country to prepare a base for their main forces.
The second stage saw the troops destroy the enemy's main body, which was moving toward the base through a gorge.
Valery Yevtukhovich, the deputy commander of Russia's airborne forces, said the exercise "was a success," and highlighted the excellent training of the Uzbek troops.
