The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Moscow

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili warned Thursday of a risk of war with Russia amid tension over a separatist region, as Moscow began dual leadership under President Dmitry Medvedev and his mentor, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

"I think that several days ago we were close and this threat remains. But for armed conflict you need two sides, and the Georgian side does not want this," Saakashvili told Russian journalists in the Georgian city of Batumi. "Georgia could not fight Russia. We do not have enough battle-ready units and NATO will not help us with this," said Saakashvili, according to news agency reports. The Georgian leader has lobbied for his former Soviet republic to join NATO. The warning came as tensions mounted over the Georgian separatist region of Abkhazia, where Georgia has accused Russian peacekeeping troops of backing the separatists.

Medvedev, who was inaugurated as president on Wednesday, taking over from Putin, is untested on foreign policy and overshadowed by his powerful mentor. Putin, who is known for his fiery pronouncements on Western moves in ex-Soviet states, was confirmed in the prime minister's post on Thursday.