Conflict looms in South Ossetia

South Ossetian troops detained and disarmed a group of Georgians

Georgian forces have clashed with troops loyal to the authorities in the breakaway region of South Ossetia, Georgian officials say.

Shots were fired at a peacekeeping post between two ethnic Georgian villages.

Earlier, about 40 Georgian troops were detained by the authorities, who said they were illegally carrying weapons.

Correspondents say the situation in the region has worsened since new Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili vowed to bring breakaway regions under control.

Georgia says its troops are on standby to move into the region.

Russia and Georgia share a peacekeeping role in South Ossetia, which broke away from Georgia in the early 1990s and declared independence.

'Provocation'

Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania said peacekeepers were attacked at a checkpoint between the villages of Tamarasheni and Kurta. Two of the peacekeepers were wounded and another abducted.

Crisis dominates Georgian media

The alleged attack came hours after South Ossetian forces entered the village of Vanati and disarmed around 40 Georgians.

The Georgian government says the soldiers are peacekeepers, and it will do all it can to free them, but South Ossetia describes them as "fighters" who have nothing to do with the joint force.

Mr Zhvania accused the South Ossetian leader, Eduard Kokoiti, of trying to provoke a conflict.

"We are watching the situation closely and taking the last remaining measures at our disposal to prevent the development of an armed confrontation," he said.

Mr Kokoiti says he has decided to release the men.

Mr Zhvania called on Russian peacekeeping forces stationed in the region to help to resolve the tension.

Convoy seized

But Russia has blamed Georgia for the escalation.

SOUTH OSSETIA Population: Approximately 70,000 Capital: Tskhinvali Major languages: Ossetian, Georgian, Russian Major religion: Christianity Currency: Russian rouble, Georgian lari Profile: South Ossetia

"Tbilisi is ignoring the fact that a sharpening of the crisis puts the people of South Ossetia, most of whom are Russian citizens, under a serious security threat," a Foreign Ministry statement said.

On Tuesday, Georgian troops intercepted a Russian convoy near Kurta. Two Russian lorries which were carrying military equipment were impounded.

Eight of the 10 vehicles were released. The two that were loaded with weapons - including more than 100 missiles - were sent to Tbilisi.

Moscow says it wants to help broker a peaceful solution, but many people in Georgia suspect the Russians of siding with the separatists, correspondents say.

South Ossetia broke away from Georgia in the 1990s, after a war that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union.

It claimed independence from Georgia and wants to join North Ossetia, which is ethnically similar and part of Russia.