EU considers sanctions against Russia

Russia's decision to recognise the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia has prompted a strong reaction from the European Union, with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner saying that sanctions and other measures

However France, which currently holds EU's rotating presidency, gave no further details on what the sanctions would entail.

Meanwhile, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says the Russian authorities have heard nothing about any EU sanctions against the country.

Moscow insists it is acting in full compliance with the six-point peace deal hammered out in mid-August between Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy.