The Georgian Foreign Ministry has accused Russia of violating its territory by expanding the South Ossetian border deeper into Georgian territory.

On Sunday, the ministry said that Russian forces had newly demarcated the disputed "village of Kveshi (in the) Gori district…with the aim of shifting the so-called 'border'," AFP reported.

According to a New York Times report, European Union Monitoring Mission Spokesman, Steve Bird, has denied evidence of any such action.

The former Georgian republic ordered the establishment of the border last November stepping up its quest for independence, which it has sought since the 1990s.

Last August, Georgia attacked South Ossetia in an attempt to regain the disputed territory, but was repelled by Russian arms. Since that time, the two sides have traded accusations of interference.

Yesterday, Moscow said that Georgia had recently intensified the conflict by launching a mortar attack on the republic.

HN/TG/DT