The Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has shrugged off Russian accusations that Tbilisi was the side 'provoking' a new conflict ahead of an August 7 anniversary of last year's war.

Saakashvili in an interview with Reuters published on Sunday, reversed the charges, saying it is the ex-Soviet state that fears Moscow's plans for a pretext to invade the country.

He went on to stress that Georgia had no plans for reclaiming the two breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which claimed independence following a brief five-day war in August 2008.

Russia has recognized both regions as states, and is backing their security with a military presence.

Saakashvili repeated his disappointment with the international community for not acting on Moscow's 'mass ethnic cleansing' of Georgians in the South Ossetia war.

The Kremlin on the other hand accuses Saakashvili of ordering the 'ethnic cleansing' of South Ossetians, most of whom have Russian citizenship, when it ordered tanks to move into the region at the start of the conflict.

The embattled president, who is under severe pressure due to domestic protests with the opposition blaming his role in the August war, said the fact that he is still in office is 'almost a miraculous story of survival'.

"I am still sitting in this office despite solemn pledges by (Prime Minister Vladimir) Putin to hang me by different parts of my body, to crush Georgia's statehood," Saakashvili said.

Fresh hints of rising tension between the foes came on Saturday, with Russia warning to defend against Georgian 'provocation' following reports that South Ossetia had come under Georgian fire. Georgia has denied the charge.

ZHD/SME/MMA