Group seized on S Ossetia border

Georgia's relations with Russia remain tense following military action in 2008

Georgia has accused Russian forces of abducting 16 of its nationals near the breakaway region of South Ossetia.

A South Ossetia government spokesman said the men were detained by Russian soldiers after crossing its border and "carrying out illegal deforestation".

Authorities in Tbilisi say the men were "kidnapped" by Russian forces while in Georgian-controlled territory and had just been gathering firewood.

Russia and Georgia fought a brief war in 2008 and tensions are still high.

In a statement on its website, South Ossetia's breakaway government said: "The detained Georgian citizens... have been handed over to regional prosecutors."

A spokesman for Georgia's Interior Ministry, Shota Utiashvili, said the men were "kidnapped" and that the government was working on "liberating" the detainees.

Following its war with Georgia in August 2008, Russia officially recognised South Ossetia and another breakaway region, Abkhazia, as independent states and stationed thousands of troops in them.

Tbilisi maintains that the continuing presence of Russian troops in the area is an "illegal occupation", but Moscow asserts it is a necessary move in order to protect the region against "Georgian aggression".