The conflict between Russia and Georgia took a new twist, when Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, declared that his country formally recognizes the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

President Medvedev told the BBC that Russia had tried to preserve Georgian unity for 17 years, but that the situation had changed after this month’s violence.

He said Moscow now felt obliged to recognise South Ossetia and Abkhazia as other countries had done with Kosovo.

Source: BBC World