Russia announces base staffing

MOSCOW, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Russia reports it has fully staffed two military bases established in Georgia's disputed republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Russian army Gen. Nikolai Makarov told a Moscow news conference that each of the bases has a full contingent of 3,700 personnel and will be operational by the end of 2010, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported Wednesday.

Makarov said Russian troops deployed at the bases are charged with patrolling the entire territory of the two disputed republics.

One of the bases is located Gudauta in the west of Abkhazia and the other is in Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia.

Last August Russia and Georgia fought a five-day war over the two republics.

Under a French-brokered peace deal, Russia withdrew its forces from Georgian territory and EU peacekeepers were sent in.