The agency put the company’s boss, a Bouteflika ally, and other top directors under arrest or on probation on suspicion of doing too well out of procurement.

It was a day of heavy street fighting in Zlitan, where rebels from Misrata came up against tanks and troops from the 32nd brigade commanded by Gaddafi's son Khamis.

Had this scenario been successful, it would have emboldened President Saakashvili to push into Abkhazia, and fulfill his campaign promise of uniting all of Georgia.