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Georgia breaks ties with Russia Georgia breaks ties with Russia
(40 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". Moscow said the decision "will not help bilateral relations" between the two nations - who had a brief war this month over South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
The move came after another day of heated exchanges over the provinces South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Reports claim Russia intends to deepen its involvement with the two regions.
Russia and Georgia fought a brief war over the issue earlier this month. Meanwhile, a rights group has said UN satellite images prove ethnic Georgian villages in South Ossetia were torched.
Western governments have been fiercely critical of Moscow's actions. 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.
Western governments have been fiercely critical of Moscow since Russian troops poured into the two regions in early August - forcing Georgian forces out.
Earlier this week, the powerful G7 group of nations said Moscow's recognition of the two provinces' independence broke international law.Earlier this week, the powerful G7 group of nations said Moscow's recognition of the two provinces' independence broke international law.
The Kremlin has hit back, labelling the G7 statement "biased" and "groundless".The Kremlin has hit back, labelling the G7 statement "biased" and "groundless".
Russian military plan 'Georgia's responsibility'
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had already announced that it would scale back staffing at its Moscow embassy, and that its ambassador - who was withdrawn last month - would not be returning.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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7549736.stm">Q&A: Conflict in Georgia class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7586438.stm">Voices from the Caucasus conflict class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7586662.stm">Russia's propaganda warfare 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.
But the foreign ministry now says all of its diplomats will return from the Moscow embassy by Saturday.But the foreign ministry now says all of its diplomats will return from the Moscow embassy by Saturday.
Deputy Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze said his ministry had received its instructions and "the final decision has been made". 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
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said Moscow regretted Tbilisi's decision.
"The possible end of diplomatic relations with Georgia is not the choice of Moscow, and Tbilisi will have to bear the entire responsibility," the state-controlled Tass news agency reported him as saying.
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.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 would 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. The conflict in the region began on 7 August when Georgia tried to retake South Ossetia by force after a series of lower-level clashes.
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". Russia launched a counter-attack and the Georgian troops were ejected from both South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
The organisation called on the Russian government to prosecute those responsible. An EU-brokered ceasefire brought a formal end to the conflict, although each side has accused the other of breaking the agreement.