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Georgia breaks ties with Russia Georgia breaks ties with Russia
(30 minutes later)
Georgia has decided to cut diplomatic ties with Russia, days after Moscow recognised the independence of Georgia's two breakaway regions.Georgia has decided to cut diplomatic ties with Russia, days after Moscow recognised the independence of Georgia's two breakaway regions.
Deputy Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze said his ministry had received its instructions and "the final decision has been made".Deputy Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze said his ministry had received its instructions and "the final decision has been made".
The move came after another day of heated exchanges over the provinces South Ossetia and Abkhazia.The move came after another day of heated exchanges over the provinces South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Russia and Georgia fought a brief war over the issue earlier this month.Russia and Georgia fought a brief war over the issue earlier this month.
Georgia had already announced that it would scale back staffing at its Moscow embassy, and that its ambassador - who was withdrawn last month - would not be returning. Western governments have been fiercely critical of Moscow's actions.
But the Foreign Ministry now says all of its diplomats will return from the Moscow embassy "in the coming days". Earlier this week, the powerful G7 group of nations said Moscow's recognition of the two provinces' independence broke international law.
Georgian officials did not give any reasons for the decision, but it comes amid reports that Moscow intends to extend its involvement in the two provinces. The Kremlin has hit back, labelling the G7 statement "biased" and "groundless".
Russian military plan
Georgia had already announced that it would scale back staffing at its Moscow embassy, and that its ambassador - who was withdrawn last month - would not be returning. SOUTH OSSETIA & ABKHAZIA South Ossetia Population: About 70,000 (before recent conflict)Capital: TskhinvaliPresident: Eduard Kokoity Abkhazia Population: About 250,000 (2003)Capital: SukhumiPresident: Sergei Bagapsh Q&A: Conflict in GeorgiaVoices from the Caucasus conflictRussia's propaganda warfare
But the foreign ministry now says all of its diplomats will return from the Moscow embassy by Saturday.
Georgian officials did not give any reasons for the decision, but it comes amid reports that Moscow intends to extend its involvement in the two provinces - which both have Russian-backed governments.
South Ossetia's parliamentary speaker Znaur Gassiyev said Russia would absorb the region within "several years", according to a report by the Associated Press.South Ossetia's parliamentary speaker Znaur Gassiyev said Russia would absorb the region within "several years", according to a report by the Associated Press.
He said the move had been agreed at high-level talks in Moscow earlier this week.He said the move had been agreed at high-level talks in Moscow earlier this week.
The Russian Interfax news agency reported that Moscow will sign an agreement next week allowing it to set up military bases in the region.The Russian Interfax news agency reported that Moscow will sign an agreement next week allowing it to set up military bases in the region.
And Interfax also quoted Abkhazia's foreign minister, Sergei Shamba, as saying his province "may become part of the Union State of Russia and Belarus".And Interfax also quoted Abkhazia's foreign minister, Sergei Shamba, as saying his province "may become part of the Union State of Russia and Belarus".
The Kremlin has not yet commented on the reports.The Kremlin has not yet commented on the reports.
Meanwhile, a rights group has said UN satellite images prove ethnic Georgian villages in South Ossetia were torched during the conflict.
Human Rights Watch says the pictures of five villages near the South Ossetian capital, Tskhinvali, are "compelling evidence of war crimes and grave human rights abuses".
The organisation called on the Russian government to prosecute those responsible.