South Ossetia's Deputy Defense Minister Ibragim Gasseyev says Georgia has moved military forces towards its border with the republic.

Four Georgian armored vehicles and 16 trucks have approached the village of Mereti in Gori district, the information and press committee cited Gasseyev as saying on Friday.

"Considering that each vehicle has room for at least 20 people, Georgia has moved at least 300 people to Mereti," he said.

Gasseyev also voiced concern over the stance of the European Union's monitoring mission commissioned to ensure security along the border with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which refuse to allow EU observers on their territory.

"Why don't they ask why Georgia is moving troops to the South Ossetian border? In the light of the recent events the place and role of EU monitors is unclear to us," he said.

Earlier on Friday, local security agencies warned against the developments near the South Ossetian border and that Tbilisi forces were seeking to provoke the republic's security forces and the Russian troops stationed in the area.

"If Georgia is preparing provocations, it should think of possible consequences before it starts carrying them out," Gasseyev said.

Tbilisi has been at odds with Moscow over recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia--once under the Georgian rule.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev declared diplomatic ties with the two republics late in August, after Russian military forces parried Georgia's huge offensive against South Ossetians and advanced deep into the ex-Soviet state.

A European-mediated ceasefire ended the conflict.

MRS/DT