Georgia separatists fuel tensions

President Saakashvili has vowed to unite Georgia

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili has warned Russia not to give military support to separatists in the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia.

The territory split from Georgia after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but the Georgian leader has vowed to bring it back under central authority.

Peace talks between Russia, Georgia and South Ossetia ended in failure this week amid growing tension.

Four Georgian soldiers were wounded in the latest fighting on Saturday.

Violence broke out when separatist forces opened fire at Georgian troops in an ethnically-Georgian village in South Ossetia.

Simmering tensions

South Ossetia broke away from Georgia in the early 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.

Separatists briefly detained Georgian troops this week

Russia has accused Georgia of raising tensions in the region.

And this week, South Ossetia came close to renewed hostilities when separatists detained a group of Georgian peacekeepers for 24 hours, forcing them to their knees in a humiliating display that was broadcast on Georgian television.

It came after Georgian troops impounded two Russian lorries which were carrying military equipment to the region.

Russia, which jointly patrols the region with Georgian and South Ossetian troops, said the arms were needed for peacekeeping purposes.

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

The Georgian president on Saturday issued a sharp warning to Russia not to get involved in armed conflict.

"if Russia gets involved in an armed conflict with Georgia we will be prepared for anything," Mr Saakashvili said, according to Interfax news agency.

"We will wipe out anyone who comes into Georgia with a sword."

Russia does not formally recognise the South Ossetian government but has close contacts with the leadership. Most residents in the region have Russian passports and the Russian currency, the rouble, is widely used.

Senior government officials in Russia and the US have appealed for calm. US Secretary of State Colin Powell discussed the situation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, while Mr Saakashvili spoke by telephone to Mr Powell and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Western governments are concerned about the events in the region, where construction of a multi-billion dollar oil pipeline, strongly backed by the US, is nearing completion.