Russia sends peacekeepers to Abkhazia

MOSCOW, May 9 (UPI) -- Russian peacekeeping troops have begun "performing their duties" in the Georgian-Abkhazian fighting zone, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said.

The peacekeepers were sent to the conflict zone to support the Collective Commonwealth of Independent States Peace Keeping Force, RIA Novosti reported Friday.

"Russian peacekeeping units deployed to the Tkvarcheli district in Abkhazia as part of measures to strengthen the Collective CIS Peace Keeping Force ... have started performing their duties," the ministry said.

It is reported Russia sent the troops to Abkhazia to prevent what it says is a premeditated Georgian armed forces offensive.

"The situation in Abkhazia is very complicated. And in this light there is one thing I want to say -- Russia has no hostile feelings toward Georgia, nor there is confrontation between Russia and Georgia," said Russian Ambassador to Tbilisi Vyacheslav Kovalenko.

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