‘South Ossetia to ask for more Russian troops’

Sources in South Ossetia suggest the republic is ready to sign a military agreement with Russia. It's reported that a deal may come as early as Tuesday, which would allow Russia to deploy more troops in the region.

South Ossetian President Eduard Kokoity has already asked Russia to build a base in the region to help ensure peace and stability.

“There will be land-based military forces here which will carry out the same peace keeping tasks as they did before. There won't be any  new bases here. The forces will be stationed at the old ones that have been here for years,” he said.

Georgia is firmly against the move, calling it an act of aggression and oppression.

Meanwhile, Abkhazia's President Sergey Bagapsh says there are no plans to deploy more Russian troops there.

“The troops stationed here in Abkhazia will go on with their peacekeeping mission. There will be no new military bases. The peacekeepers will occupy the same bases they've been occupying all these years,” said Bagapsh.

“We and South Ossetia believe that having a Russian military base here is necessary and will bring peace to the entire Caucasus region. But we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves. There is lots of work to be done first,” he added.

Last week Russia recognised the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.