There were reports of heavy fighting between the separatists and Georgian militiamen, and of farms being burnt. Both sides have accused each other of violating the truce, which aimed to end several days of clashes in the Gali border area.

The Abkhaz representative in Moscow, Igor Akhba, said the withdrawal of Abkhaz forces from Gali had been temporarily halted because of the fighting, but later resumed.

The short-lived truce came in response to several days of heavy fighting between Georgian guerillas and Abkhaz forces. The clashes in the demilitarised border area of Gali were the worst since Abkhazia seceded five years ago.

The ceasefire agreement called for a withdrawal of forces.

It also specified safety guarantees to allow a prompt return home for as many as 35,000 refugees, who the Georgian President, Eduard Shevardnadze, says have fled into government territory.

The recent escalation in fighting began when Georgian guerrilla units, mostly drawn from the 150,000 refugees forced out of Abkhazia in 1993, attacked Abkhaz troops in the breakaway province.

The Abkhaz retaliated by launching a punitive operation against Georgian villages in the area.

Mr Shevardnadze has ruled out deploying troops to the area, saying such a move could lead to an escalation of violence.

He said: "The involvement of the regular Army ... would lead us to a major military confrontation."

Earlier he called on the international community to help end the killing.

Mr Shevardnadze has criticised the Russian peace-keeping forces who patrol the area under attack.