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UN to meet on Georgia-Russia row US reassures Georgia over Russia
(30 minutes later)
Georgia has said it will call upon the international community to stand up against Russia at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has assured Georgia that the US is firmly committed to supporting the country's sovereignty.
Georgia has accused Russia of breaching its sovereignty by moving to forge closer ties with two breakaway regions. Georgia says Russian moves to forge closer ties with two of its breakaway regions threaten its sovereignty.
Tensions between the two countries flared after a Georgian spy drone was shot down over Abkhazia on Sunday. The row between the two neighbours will be discussed at a closed-door session of the UN Security Council.
Russia denied involvement, blaming rebels, but Georgia said it constituted "an act of open aggression". After meeting Georgia's foreign minister, Ms Rice said the US was "very concerned" by Russia's actions.
Advertisement Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision last week to order closer links between Russia and Georgia's two breakaway regions - Abkhazia and South Ossetia - prompted outrage in Tbilisi.
Georgia's air force commander shows footage that allegedly shows a Russian aircraft shooting down the Georgian plane Aggression claim
Georgia's defence ministry released footage of what appears to be a Russian MiG-29 shooting down the unarmed Georgian drone. "Our commitment to Georgia and to its territorial integrity is firm," Ms Rice said in Washington where she met with her Georgian counterpart, David Bakradze.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision last week to order closer ties between Russia and Georgia's two breakaway regions - Abkhazia and South Ossetia - prompted outrage in Tbilisi. "There should be no question as to Georgia's integrity and Georgia's full incorporation into the international community," she added.
Georgia's foreign minister said he would seek to isolate Russia at the emergency meeting. Today, in 2008, the annexation of a neighbouring country is unacceptable for the international community David Bakradze, Georgian foreign minister
"It is a test for Georgia," David Bakradze said from Washington. The US secretary of state said the dispute between the two neighbours should be "worked out state-to-state".
"Today, in 2008, the annexation of a neighbouring country is unacceptable for the international community." Georgia is pressing the UN to back its claims of aggression from its powerful neighbour, Russia.
Earlier, Mr Bakradze said Georgia's clash with Russia represented a test for international institutions.
"Today, in 2008, the annexation of a neighbouring country is unacceptable for the international community," he said.
Tensions between the two countries flared after a Georgian spy drone was shot down over the breakaway region of Abkhazia on Sunday.
Spy plane row
Georgia's defence ministry produced a video which appeared to show footage of the unmanned aircraft being hit by a Russian jet, saying this constituted "an act of open aggression".
Russia has denied any involvement in the incident, blaming Abkhaz rebels, who have also claimed responsibility.
The Russian foreign ministry also said that the presence of the drone violated UN ceasefire agreements.
Russian and UN peacekeepers have been deployed in the two regions since the early 1990s, when violence erupted as they broke free from Georgian control.Russian and UN peacekeepers have been deployed in the two regions since the early 1990s, when violence erupted as they broke free from Georgian control.
Russia has emphasised that it is not seeking to inflame the situation but to try and protect the rights and legal interests of Russian citizens who make up the majority of the population in the two regions. Russia has asserted that it is not seeking to inflame the situation but to try and protect the rights and legal interests of Russian citizens who make up the majority of the population in the two regions.
But Mr Bakradze said the Russian decree represented "the first time someone attacks Georgia's jurisdiction, questions Georgia's jurisdiction over Abkhazia and South Ossetia".
He said Russia should also reverse its decision to lift regional trade restrictions which Georgia fears could allow weapons to flood into the region.