Russia and Georgia in drone row

Georgia and Russia have been trading accusations over a reconnaissance plane which allegedly crashed in Georgia, killing two Georgian policemen.

"Georgia's sovereign airspace was violated by a Russian unpiloted reconnaissance drone," Georgia's interior ministry said.

"These claims have nothing to do with the reality," Russia retorted.

Rows about drones were a feature of rising tensions between Russia and Georgia that ended in war in August.

During the conflict, Georgia's attempts to regain control of its breakaway region of South Ossetia were repelled by Russian forces.

'Provocation'

Georgia's interior ministry said a drone overflew Georgia at approximately 1500 (1100 GMT) on Monday, before crashing "on the territory of the village of Plavi, in the Shida Kartli region".

"Two police officers... died as a result of the explosion of the unmanned aerial vehicle, which occurred shortly after the police unit arrived," it said.

Eight other people were injured in the blast, it said.

But the Russian defence ministry dismissed the claim as "yet another in a series of provocations by the Georgian leadership".