Russia supports Abkhazia, South Ossetia

MOSCOW, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Russia stands by Abkhazia and South Ossetia's decision against the presence of Georgian peacekeepers, a senior military official said Saturday.

"The president (of Russia) has clearly stated that after all that had happened neither Abkhazians, nor South Ossetians, will accept Georgians as peacekeepers on their territories," said Col. Gen. Anatoly Nogovitsyn, deputy chief of the Russian general staff.

South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity said this week no Georgian peacekeepers or international observers would be allowed in the breakaway republic, RIA Novosti reported.

"Only Russian peacekeepers will be allowed in South Ossetia and Abkhazia," he said. "There will be no Georgian peacekeepers on South Ossetian territory."

Kokoity and the Abkhazian President Sergei Bagapsh signed a peace plan in Moscow Thursday.

The French-brokered agreement approved Tuesday requires an immediate ceasefire and calls for Russian troop withdrawals.