The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Moscow

Russia's defence ministry on Saturday accused Georgia of harbouring plans to take back the separatist province of Abkhazia by force that could trigger a war, Interfax news agency reported.

"Such plans thought up by Tbilisi cannot be seen as anything other than the latest step aimed at escalating tensions in the region, which could turn the conflict into a new war," Interfax quoted a ministry spokesman as saying.

The leader of the separatists in Abkhazia, Sergei Bagapsh, earlier on Saturday said he had been informed of aborted plans for a major military operation by Georgian forces in April or May of this year, Interfax said.

The Russian defence ministry spokesman said the announcement raised "concern," particularly as it allegedly contains detained plans to block the bases of Russian peacekeeping troops operating in the region.

The Russian and Georgian presidents met on Saturday in Kazakhstan during celebrations to mark Astana's 10th anniversary as a capital, with Dmitry Medvedev warning against fomenting tension in the region, according to a Kremlin press service official there.

The official said that Medvedev had spoken with Mikheil Saakashvili and "remarked that it was unacceptable to foment tensions in the region" and "stressed the necessity for a process of negotiations with all the parties involved."

Abkhazia has enjoyed de facto independence since breaking away in a conflict following the collapse of the Soviet Union that killed several thousand people and forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.

Tensions have risen since Russia earlier this year moved to bolster ties with Abkhazia, whose independence is not recognised by any country. Abkhazia does however have strong diplomatic and economic support from Russia.