MOSCOW (AFP) - Russia said on Friday (Sept 11) it would stage massive military drills in the Caucasus in late September with troops from countries including China, Iran and Pakistan invited to participate.

More than 12,000 troops will take part in the "Caucasus-2020" war games, which will take place in southern Russia from Sept 21 to 26 and include land and naval exercises, Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin told a briefing.