Eurasia

TBILISI (Reuters) – Georgians on the streets of Tbilisi reacted defiantly but without surprise on Tuesday to Russia’s recognition of two rebel provinces, some refusing to accept they may have lost Abkhazia and South Ossetia for good.

Russia is not frightened of another Cold War. That is the word from its President Dmitry Medvedev, who is standing firm on his decision to recognise the independence of Georgia’s breakaway regions.

European foreign ministers have been outraged by Russia’s actions in Georgia, and France’s Bernard Kouchner went on French television last night to make a spectacular allegation.

Before the UN has had time to act on the crisis in Georgia, the Russian president’s recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia’s independence has undermined its efforts.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has given his country’s reaction to Russia’s decision to recognise the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Russia, at odds with the United States over Georgia, will press the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday to condemn U.S.-led air strikes in Afghanistan that killed dozens of civilians, diplomats said.

SUKHUMI/TSKHINVALI, Georgia (Reuters) – Residents in Georgia’s breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia fired into the air, drank champagne and wept on Tuesday after Russia recognized them as independent states.

MOSABRUNI, Georgia (Reuters) – Russian forces pushed Georgian police out of a disputed village on the de facto South Ossetian border on Tuesday after a tense stand-off that underlined the fragility of their peace.

Russia has defied pressure from America and the West, and has recognised the independence of Georgia’s two breakaway regions. President Dimitry Medvedev said he had signed decrees accepting Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states, and urged all other nations to do the same.

TEHRAN (FNA)- Officials said a Russian nuclear delegation was scheduled to arrive in Iran in September 2008 to discuss a final timetable for the 1,000 megawatt Bushehr power plant.