Russian bill expands reasons for deploying troops

MOSCOW (AP) - President Dmitry Medvedev has submitted a bill expanding legal reasons to deploy Russian troops abroad, the Kremlin said Monday.

The bill released by the Kremlin would allow the president to send troops outside Russia to fend off attacks on the Russian military, deter aggression against another state, protect Russian citizens or combat pirates.

The Kremlin-controlled parliament is expected to swiftly approve the bill when it meets in September after the summer break.

Medvedev told leaders of Russia's political parties Monday that the war with Georgia a year ago highlighted the need for the bill expanding deployment rules.

"These issues must be clearly and precisely regulated," he said. "We wouldn't like to see such things happen again, but we must have clear legislation on the subject."

Russia says it sent forces into Georgia to protect civilians and its own military personnel from a Georgian invasion of the breakaway province of South Ossetia. Georgia countered that Russia triggered the hostilities by sending a military convoy into South Ossetia.
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