Russia announced plans yesterday to station about 7,600 troops in Georgia's separatist regions, more than twice the number based there before last month's war and a level likely to alarm the West.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said troops would stay in South Ossetia and Abkhazia for a long time to prevent any "repeat of Georgian aggression".

Moscow's intervention in Georgia last month, in which its forces crushed an attempt by Tbilisi to retake South Ossetia, drew widespread international condemnation and prompted concern over the security of energy supplies.

Briefing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on talks with the separatist leaders, Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said: "We have already agreed on the contingent - in the region of 3,800 men in each republic - its structure and location."

Asked at a news conference how long Russian forces would stay in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Mr Lavrov said: "They will be there for a long time, at least for the foreseeable period".

Russia has welcomed the EU role as a mediator over Georgia but, in sharp contrast, it has accused the US of contributing to the conflict by arming Georgia and failing to rein in its leadership.

US Vice President Dick Cheney, who visited Georgia last week to show solidarity with the ex-Soviet state, said in Rome yesterday that the international community was united in deploring Russia's military action.

Both the European Union and the US have warned Russia it could face serious consequences over its actions in Georgia, but the scope for punitive measures is limited.