The Georgian president has accused Russia of trying to "wipe Georgia from the map", following Moscow's recognition of Georgia's two breakaway regions as independent states.

Mikheil Saakashvili on Tuesday condemned the Russian move as illegal, saying Russia was attempting to "change Europe's borders by force".

"This is the first attempt in Europe after Nazi Germany and the Stalinist Soviet Union to put a neighbouring state on its knees and to change the borders of Europe by force," he said.

He accused Russia of seeking to "break the Georgian state, undermine the fundamental values of Georgia and to wipe Georgia from the map".

Russia formally recognised the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, two breakaway regions inside Georgia that have received long-term support from Moscow.

The move follows the recent conflict between Russia and Georgia, prompted by Georgia's attempts to re-establish its authority over South Ossetia.

Russian recognition

"I have signed decrees on the recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia," Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president, said on Tuesday in a pre-recorded address on national television.

"This is not an easy choice but this is the only chance to save people's lives," he said.

Vitaly Churkin, Russia's UN ambassador, said Georgia's attack on South Ossetia negated UN resolutions that Moscow supported that guaranteed the territorial integrity of Georgia.

Saakashvili's action created a ``new reality'' that justifies Russia's decision to recognize the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, he said.

Celebrations quickly got under way in Sukhumi, the Abkhaz capital. where some jubilant residents fired shots in the air to celebrate.

Hundreds of people also gathered in the main square of Tskhinvali, the South Ossetian capital, hugging each other and waving the separatist flag.

There was a deafening roar of celebratory gunfire from Kalashnikov guns and antique hunting rifles.

Western condemnation

But the West condemned Russia's move.

Condoleeza Rice, the US secretary of state, said Russia's move was "regrettable" and vowed the US would not let any attempt to recognise the regions' independence through the UN Security Council.

Germany, which has strong economic ties with Russia and is traditionally less critical of Russia in groups such as the EU and Nato, also reacted sharply.

"This contradicts principles of territorial integrity as a fundamental right," Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, said on a visit to Estonia, a former Soviet republic.

Nato also rejected Russia's decision.

The alliance confirmed this year that it would press ahead with Georgian membership, a move that has angered Moscow.

EU leaders including Merkel are to hold an emergency meeting in Brussels next week to discuss their response to Russia, which still has troops in Georgian territory.

Russian forces began to withdraw from Georgia last week, but Russian forces have not pulled back to their positions before the crisis, as Moscow agreed to do under a peace deal brokered by Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president.


Agencies