Russia 'resumes' causeway work

President Kuchma has been visiting the disputed area

Russia has reportedly resumed work on a causeway which has raised tensions with Ukraine, hours after agreeing to suspend the project.

Construction work in the Kerch Strait separating the two countries stopped while Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma visited the scene, but reportedly began again as soon as he had left, says the BBC's Nikolai Gorshkov in Moscow.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian parliament passed a resolution describing Russia's actions in building the causeway as an "unfriendly act".

I am forced to admit that I have not seen appropriate respect given to Ukraine and its 48 million people Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma

Some Russian officials have cast doubt on Ukraine's claim to the island of Tuzla, which the causeway would link to the Russian mainland if completed.

But President Kuchma, who cut short a tour of Latin America on Wednesday because of the crisis, said there would be no concessions over the maritime border in the area.

He was speaking after visiting Tuzla, in the middle of the strait, where Ukraine has been reinforcing its border guards.

"I am forced to admit that I have not seen appropriate respect given to Ukraine and its 48 million people," he said.

"But, personally, I am convinced that we will be able to avert, and have practically averted, dramatic developments."

The Russian causeway stretches from the mainland towards Tuzla, and is now about 100 metres from what Kiev considers to be Ukraine's border.

Russia has said it is not extending the causeway but rather widening and reinforcing it to withstand storms.

The Kerch Strait links the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. The area is rich in fish, oil and gas reserves, and is a lucrative transit route for Ukraine.

The dispute threatens to derail the new common market agreement the two countries have concluded with Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Mr Kasyanov will meet his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych on Friday to discuss the territorial issue.

Ukraine has been marking its borders

Ukraine has put its border guards on alert, laid tank traps on the island and held air and sea exercises nearby.

Reuters news agency also reported that Ukrainian guards were creating a makeshift sea border with pontoons to prevent further construction.

Correspondents say Ukraine is worried that Russia will try to claim more territory ahead of the talks.

However, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said the causeway was being built purely for economic and environmental reasons.