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Chavez recognises Georgia rebels Chavez recognises Georgia rebels
(21 minutes later)
Venezuela will recognise the independence of the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, President Hugo Chavez says. Venezuela will recognise the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, President Hugo Chavez says.
Venezuela will become the third country to support their controversial independence declarations, after Russia and Nicargaua.Venezuela will become the third country to support their controversial independence declarations, after Russia and Nicargaua.
Mr Chavez made the announcement during a visit to Russia.Mr Chavez made the announcement during a visit to Russia.
The territories are still considered by most of the world to be part of Georgia. Most of the world still considers the territories to be part of Georgia. They were the subject of a war between Russia and Georgia last year.
Georgia launched an assault to try to regain control of South Ossetia, but it was repelled by Russian forces.
Russia then built up its presence in both South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and recognised their independence.
The move was condemned by the West, and snubbed by the international community, with only Nicaragua following suit.
But analysts say Venezuela's move will be a boost for Russia, which has made no secret of its wish to see an end to what it calls the "regime in Georgia" of President Mikhail Saakashvili.