Russia demands Nato calls off exercises in Georgia

Russia demanded yesterday that Nato call off planned military exercises in Georgia, saying they could undermine its efforts to rebuild ties with the Western alliance.

Ex-Soviet Georgia has become a focus of tension between the West and Russia, which sees it as part of its sphere of influence. Nato's offer of eventual membership for Georgia has angered Moscow, which sent troops into Georgia last August.

"This is absurd and a provocation," Russia's envoy to Nato, Dmitry Rogozin, said by telephone. "I have asked the Nato secretary general... to postpone these exercises or to cancel them."

Nato says the exercises, from May 6 to June 1, will involve 1,300 troops from 19 countries. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the exercises would not help efforts to restore stability in the restive Caucasus region, Interfax news agency reported.

Moscow says Nato's eastward expansion is a threat to its security.

Georgia's attempt to retake the pro-Moscow breakaway South Ossetia region last year prompted Russia to send in its tanks, which pushed to within 45 kilometres of the capital, Tbilisi.