Moscow fully supports Georgia rebels, official says

MOSCOW, Aug 2 (Reuters) The Russians fully support rebel Abkhazia, a Georgian region that has been the centre of tension in Moscow's stand-off with the Georgian government, a senior Russian diplomat said today.

Georgia, which sent troops into a remote gorge piercing separatist Abkhazia last week despite Russian protests, has long accused Moscow of backing the rebels.

It is rare for Russian officials openly to admit supporting Abkhazia. But Grigory Karasin, a deputy foreign minister, said Russians could not help worrying about the region because it borders Russia and is home to Russian citizens and troops.

''Russian society is strongly concerned by the development of the situation and fully supports the decisive position of Abkhaz President (Sergei) Bagapsh,'' Karasin said in a statement.

Bagapsh has demanded Georgian troops quit the gorge, and pledged to kill any Georgian soldier who crosses into his region, which has proclaimed independence.

Abkhazia, and a second rebel region of South Ossetia, are key sources of friction between Georgia and Russia, which tops up the regions' budgets and has given their citizens passports.

Tbilisi says Russia is trying to annex its territory, and has threatened to veto Moscow's bid to join the World Trade Organisation if it does not halt its support.

Russia in turn, which opposes Georgia's desire to break free of Moscow's orbit and join NATO, has told Tbilisi not to send troops to regain control over its rebel territory.

''Any other actions of a forceful kind will be an exercise in cynicism and irresponsibility. I assume they would receive the appropriate answer,'' Karasin said.

Georgia's government today discussed the Abkhaz government-in-exile it plans to set up in the Kodori Gorge, seized by its forces from a local strongman last week.

It decided to spend 3 million lari (1.7 million dollars) on developing the gorge, and will in addition build a new government building, a small airport and a new road.

Meanwhile, separatist leader Bagapsh met representatives of Russian Cossack groups who had travelled to the region to pledge support if Georgia tried to regain control. Leaders of other national groups visited him yesterday and offered military assistance.

Russian ''volunteers'', widely seen as equipped and financed by Moscow, played a key role in defeating the Georgian army in the 1992-3 conflict when Georgia lost control of Abkhazia.

Reuters SBA GC2207