Russian navy to track ships serving breakaway region

RUSSIA'S navy is to track shipping in the Black Sea to defend the breakaway Abkhaz region from Georgia.

Russian news agencies quoted Sergei Lavrov, Moscow's foreign minister, as saying yesterday: "Georgian provocations in neutral waters towards the foreign ships which deliver cargo to Abkhazia – humanitarian, economic or any legal cargo – are a serious concern."

Analysts say his warning is a further indication that regional tensions following last year's five-day war between Moscow and Tbilisi are not fading, days after an EU-commissioned report warned of a serious threat of further conflict.

Russia has already said it will detain any Georgian ship entering waters claimed by Abkhazia without permission, raising fears of naval skirmishes.

"We believe that it will be possible to regulate the tracking of cargo, which will guarantee their defence from provocations," Mr Lavrov said during a visit to Abkhazia's capital, according to Interfax.