It was a difficult operation because of the terrain and weather

Lothar Wedekind IAEA

The operation in mountains covered in deep snow near the breakaway region of Abkhazia involved putting the objects in lead containers, while avoiding exposure to radiation.

The devices, originally used to power portable electric generators, were discovered by three woodcutters who used them as heat sources and received dangerous doses of radiation.

"It was a difficult operation because of the terrain and weather but also because of the power of the sources," said a spokesman for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Lothar Wedekind.

Radioactive 'orphans'

Experts from France, Germany, Russia and the United States are to meet in Tbilisi on Wednesday to review the operation and discuss how to treat two of the woodcutters, who are still in hospital in a serious condition.

The sources are now safely stored in Tbilisi

During three days of talks, they will also consider measures to search for other portable generators that may still be lying forgotten in remote locations.

The IAEA says it has already helped Georgia with a number of emergencies caused by the discovery of "orphan" radiation sources.

Mr Wedekind added that in the wake of the 11 September attacks the IAEA was moving to strengthen programmes designed to prevent them getting into the wrong hands, and to reduce the threat of "potential acts of nuclear terrorism".

He also said that there was no way of ruling out that sources of the same kind would turn up in other former Soviet republics.

One man discharged

The generators were widely used in remote areas for generating electricity, heat and battery power for communication systems.

They would originally have been shielded to prevent any leakage of radiation.

In this case the original cover must have been removed or damaged, making the sources, which contain the radioactive element strontium-90, highly dangerous.

One of three woodcutters who discovered the sources in December has been discharged from hospital.

The meeting of foreign experts this week will decide whether the man with the most serious injuries should be sent for treatment in France.