EU to send observers to South Ossetia

The European Parliament has condemned Russia's recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia but the assembly has welcomed the EU's decision to send an observer mission to the conflict area to investigate the situation.

Wednesday's resolution in Brussels also urges Russia to completely withdraw its troops from Georgia.

Russia is calling for the UN Security Council to back the six-point ceasefire agreement, brokered by the Russian and French presidents.

Russia insists that its remaining servicemen on Georgian territory are peacekeepers permitted under the peace plan. Moscow accuses Georgia of violating the agreed conditions.

“The Medvedev-Sarkozy six-point plan states that Georgian troops must return to their quarter. What we are witnessing now is quite the opposite of that. We can see that Georgian troops are being re-equipped and some are being relocated not far from Russian peacekeeping posts,” said Andrey Nesterenko, Russia’s Foreign Ministry representative.