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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Georgian anger at Putin war claim | Georgian anger at Putin war claim |
| (1 day later) | |
| Georgia's government has reacted with anger to claims by Russian President Vladimir Putin that Georgia is readying for war in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. | Georgia's government has reacted with anger to claims by Russian President Vladimir Putin that Georgia is readying for war in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. |
| Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili called Mr Putin's remarks "absurd" and said that Georgia had no plan to use force in the breakaway regions. | Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili called Mr Putin's remarks "absurd" and said that Georgia had no plan to use force in the breakaway regions. |
| Abkhazia and South Ossetia are both seeking independence from Georgia. | Abkhazia and South Ossetia are both seeking independence from Georgia. |
| Russian-Georgian relations worsened last month after Tbilisi detained four Russians whom it said were spies. | Russian-Georgian relations worsened last month after Tbilisi detained four Russians whom it said were spies. |
| Following the arrests, Moscow imposed sanctions on Georgia and expelled hundreds of Georgians living in Russia. | Following the arrests, Moscow imposed sanctions on Georgia and expelled hundreds of Georgians living in Russia. |
| US pressure | US pressure |
| The Georgian government has vowed to reassert control over Abkhazia and South Ossetia but insists it will use peaceful methods. | The Georgian government has vowed to reassert control over Abkhazia and South Ossetia but insists it will use peaceful methods. |
| "It's absurd," Mr Saakashvili said referring to Mr Putin's remarks. "We don't need a war." | "It's absurd," Mr Saakashvili said referring to Mr Putin's remarks. "We don't need a war." |
| At a meeting with President Putin in Moscow on Saturday, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged restraint in relations with the pro-Western government in Tbilisi. | At a meeting with President Putin in Moscow on Saturday, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged restraint in relations with the pro-Western government in Tbilisi. |
| As the crisis between the two countries continues, the BBC's Matthew Collin in Tbilisi says there is a growing sense of anger in Georgia of what many people see as the Kremlin's extreme reaction to the arrest of four Russian military intelligence officers on spying charges last month. | As the crisis between the two countries continues, the BBC's Matthew Collin in Tbilisi says there is a growing sense of anger in Georgia of what many people see as the Kremlin's extreme reaction to the arrest of four Russian military intelligence officers on spying charges last month. |
| Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili described the situation as profoundly disturbing, saying that it was a clash of values between the democratic aspirations of Georgia and those of Russia, a country which was targeting people because of their ethnicity. | Georgian Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili described the situation as profoundly disturbing, saying that it was a clash of values between the democratic aspirations of Georgia and those of Russia, a country which was targeting people because of their ethnicity. |
| The speaker of the Georgian parliament, Nino Burjanadze, accused Russia of using nationalism as a weapon and turning Georgians into what she described as the image of the enemy. | |
| Although both sides say they want to calm the tensions, our correspondent says, the uncompromising statements continue. | Although both sides say they want to calm the tensions, our correspondent says, the uncompromising statements continue. |