Georgia leader wants to meet Putin in missile row

TBILISI, Aug 11 (Reuters) Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili said he was ready to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to resolve tensions stoked this week by allegations over a missile that landed in Georgia.

Earlier this week Georgia accused its giant northern neighbour of dropping a missile on its territory and requested a special meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss what it called ''an act of aggression'' by Russian aircraft.

The Security Council on Thursday postponed the requested meeting, saying it needed more information on the incident.

''We would like to hold a substantive meeting with President Putin to resolve all the problems,'' Saakashvili said in a live appearnce on Georgian television as he spoke to students yesterday.

''We want all the existing issues between us to be resolved in a constructive mood and in an atmosphere of partnership.'' REUTERS SRS RAI0420