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Georgia in Russian attack claim Georgia in Russian attack claim
(about 2 hours later)
Russia has committed an "act of aggression" against Georgia by firing a guided missile at its territory, officials in Tbilisi say.Russia has committed an "act of aggression" against Georgia by firing a guided missile at its territory, officials in Tbilisi say.
They say the missile landed outside the village of Tsitelubani on Monday, some 60km (37 miles) north-west of the capital Tbilisi, but did not explode.They say the missile landed outside the village of Tsitelubani on Monday, some 60km (37 miles) north-west of the capital Tbilisi, but did not explode.
Russian officials have moved quickly to deny all of the accusations. Georgia has now made a formal protest to Russia over the incident. Moscow denies all the accusations.
Relations between the two neighbouring countries have often been fraught since the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991. Relations between the two countries have been strained in recent years.
Moscow is angry about Georgia's plans to join Nato, while Tbilisi accuses Russia of trying to destabilise Georgia.
'Powerful missile''Powerful missile'
Georgian officials say that two Russian fighter jets launched the missile at 1930 (1530 GMT) on Monday. Georgian officials say that two Russian "SU-type" jets launched the missile at 1930 (1530 GMT) on Monday.
Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Ustiashvili told the BBC the planes had flown some 70km (43 miles) over Georgia's territory, firing the rocket, which weighed about a ton. Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Ustiashvili told the BBC the planes had flown some 70km (43 miles) over Georgia's territory, firing the "modern and powerful" rocket, which weighed about a ton.
Mr Ustiashvili said the missile had landed in "the backyard of one of the local residents". He said the Russian jets flew from a Russian base in the North Caucasus before firing the missile, which eventually landed in a domestic backyard.
He said radars showed that the aircraft flew out of "the Russian military base in the North Caucasus", adding that it was "one of the most modern and powerful missiles that the Russian air force has". Georgian officials said they had gathered fragments of missile fins and other debris near a small crater where the rocket landed.
"It has become common practice for the Russian air force and for the government troops to sneak into the Georgian territory, but what's different in this incident from the previous ones is that they have threatened Georgian airspace much deeper, and that they have used a very powerful bomb," the spokesman said. "It has become common practice for the Russian air force and for the government troops to sneak into the Georgian territory," Mr Ustiashvili said.
Earlier, Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili told the Reuters news agency: "I assess this fact as an act of aggression carried out by planes flown from the territory of another state." "But what is different in this incident... is that they have threatened Georgian airspace much deeper, and that they have used a very powerful bomb."
Georgia's foreign ministry said it would summon the Russian ambassador in Tbilisi to hand over a note of protest over the incident. Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili told the BBC the missile firing was an "act of aggression".
Moscow denied the accusations. He said foreign diplomats in Georgia were being asked for a "stronger and clear-cut response" to the incident from the international community.
"Russia's air force neither on Monday nor Tuesday flew flights over Georgia," said Col Alexander Drobyshevsky, an aide to the commander of Russia's air force. South Ossetia theory
"Russia has not violated the borders of sovereign Georgia," Col Drobyshevsky added. Earlier on Tuesday Georgia's foreign ministry handed a note of protest to the Russian ambassador in Tbilisi, although Moscow continued to deny all accusations.
Tsitelubani is nor far away from Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia, which receives political support from Moscow, the BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow says. I fail to see why a Russian plane would bomb territory close to South Ossetia Alexander GoltsRussian defence analyst "Russia's air force neither on Monday nor Tuesday flew flights over Georgia," said Col Alexander Drobyshevsky, an aide to the commander of Russia's air force.
"Russia has not violated the borders of sovereign Georgia," he added.
Tsitelubani is not far from Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia, which receives political support from Moscow, says the BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow.
South Ossetia's leader Eduard Kokoiti said Georgian planes fired the missile to discredit Russia.
"This is a well-planned provocation," Mr Kokoiti - who holds Russian citizenship - said.
But a Russian defence analyst, Alexander Golts, said that without objective, hard information on the incident, it was impossible to lay the blame on either Russian or Georgian aircraft.
"While no one can say for sure whether it was a fuel tank or a rocket or a bomb which fell, I fail to see why a Russian plane would bomb territory close to South Ossetia," he told the BBC News website.
Strained relationsStrained relations
The two conflicting accounts of the incident reflect ongoing tensions between Georgia and Russia, our correspondent says. The conflicting accounts of the incident reflect ongoing tensions between Georgia and Russia, our correspondent says.
Relations between Moscow and Tbilisi deteriorated sharply last year when Georgia expelled four Russian army officers it accused of spying.Relations between Moscow and Tbilisi deteriorated sharply last year when Georgia expelled four Russian army officers it accused of spying.
The deportation triggered a furious diplomatic row, with Moscow imposing economic sanctions against its neighbour and deporting a number of Georgians.The deportation triggered a furious diplomatic row, with Moscow imposing economic sanctions against its neighbour and deporting a number of Georgians.
Georgian officials have frequently claimed that Russian military aircraft have violated its airspace - accusations always denied by Russia.Georgian officials have frequently claimed that Russian military aircraft have violated its airspace - accusations always denied by Russia.
Moscow is angry about Georgia's plans to join Nato, while Tbilisi accuses Russia of trying to destabilise Georgia.
The worst problems have usually been related to regional conflicts - the frozen conflicts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.The worst problems have usually been related to regional conflicts - the frozen conflicts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Many Georgians accuse Russia of imperialism, while Russia criticises Georgia for nationalism and pursuing an anti-Russian foreign policy.Many Georgians accuse Russia of imperialism, while Russia criticises Georgia for nationalism and pursuing an anti-Russian foreign policy.