TSKHINVALI, Georgia, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Georgian and South Ossetian forces were in a tense stand-off on Monday over control of a disputed village on the edge of the breakaway region, according to Georgian and separatist officials. Georgian and Russian troops fought a brief war in the region earlier this month and are now observing a fragile ceasefire. Georgian officials said the village of Mosabruni was not part of separatist-controlled territory and alleged the separatists were planning a provocation against Georgian special forces who had been deployed there. The separatist administration said the village was within South Ossetia and the Georgian forces were there unlawfully. It accused Tbilisi of massing armed men in preparation for an attack. "According to our information, South Ossetian militias want to take this village. Our forces got the order not to shoot, but if Ossetians start shooting they will have to return fire," Kakha Lomaia, Secretary of Georgia's National Security Council, told Reuters. Lomaia said the atmosphere in the majority Georgian-populated village was "very tense". He declined to say exactly when Georgian forces had returned there. Although the village lies just inside the region of South Ossetia, it has been under Georgian control for over a decade and is considered by Georgia as part of its territory. "We believe that the Ossetians are preparing a provocation there," Lomaia said. A separatist official said the village, about 70 km west of the regional capital Tskhinvali, lies inside South Ossetia, and the separatists were consulting Russian forces on their next move. "About three hours ago, Georgian policemen occupied the village of Mosabruni. They told locals to leave straight away. Villagers are leaving on foot," Irina Gagloyeva, head of the separatists' Committee for Press and Information, told Reuters. "South Ossetian security bodies are now holding consultations with Russian peacekeepers and I hope very much they will not allow a new flare-up." Georgia says its ceasefire agreement with Russia allows Georgian police return to all areas where they were present before the conflict, including villages such as Mosabruni. (Reporting by Matt Robinson in Tbilisi and Dmitry Solovyov in Tskhinvali, writing by Conor Sweeney in Moscow, editing by Tim Pearce)
Workers clear debris from buildings damaged during the conflict with Georgia's breakaway region of South Osseti, in Gori, about 80km (50 miles) from Tbilisi, August 25, 2008. A call by ...
