Georgia faces the permanent threat of conflict as Russia failed to achieve its major goal in August, President Saakashvili said on October 25.

He was speaking at a meeting of the National Security Council, which was convened after an explosion killed the head of the local administration in the Tsalenjikha region on the border with breakaway Abkhazia.

Gia Mebonia died when an explosive went off as he and local police officers were inspecting a house in the village of Muzhava, which according to the Georgian side had been hit by grenades overnight on October 25, allegedly fired by Abkhaz militias. The owner of the house was also killed and one police officer was injured in the explosion.

The Georgian Interior Ministry said in a statement posted on its website that a mine had exploded. Later Interior Ministry officials said it may have been an explosive detonated by remote control.

In televised remarks at the National Security Council session, President Saakashvili said it was “a provocation” and “a terrorist act.”

“We should understand that we are facing a very evil, furious force,” Saakashvili said. “This force is very much disappointed that it failed to achieve its main goal in August, which was the occupation of Georgia, the take-over of Tbilisi, the overthrow of the government and the seizure of the entire region.”

“As long as this is their attitude, we will permanently be under the threat of conflict,” he added.

“Organized and coordinated actions are needed as never before, and a show of calmness, firmness and unity is required,” Saakashvili continued. “Every agency should work in an organized manner and maximum coordination is needed with the European monitors in order to prevent crimes in both conflict zones. We should understand that these people are willing to repeat their crimes and we should be ready to prevent this.”

Meanwhile, Abkhaz officials have denied any involvement in the incident. Laurens Kogonia, chief of the Abkhaz police in the Gali region, told Interfax news agency that “not a single incident” had occurred over the previous twenty-four hours.