Russia-Georgia feud over airspace

TIBILISI, Georgia, July 9 (UPI) -- Russia and Georgia have each accused the other of violating airspace restrictions over the breakaway republic of South Ossetia.

Russian spokesman Vladimir Ivanov claimed that their peacekeeping force witnessed two Georgian Air Force Su-25 strike aircraft entering the conflict zone Tuesday night. Georgian Air Force Deputy Cmdr. Zurab Pochkhua replied two Russian fighters intruded Georgian airspace at around the same time and were later joined by two other aircraft, the Russian news agency Novosti reported Wednesday.

The breakaway Georgian republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which had quieted after seeing armed conflicts in the 1990s, have seen a rise in tensions this year with Russia supporting their right to independence.