Abkhaz leader demands destruction of Georgian border-crossing ships

Leader of Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia Sergei Bagapsh on Wednesday ordered the navy to destroy Georgian ships said to have illegally crossed the border, Xinhua reported.

"I have issued an order to our Navy to destroy Georgian ships illegally crossing Abkhaz marine border. This step has been prompted by unending piracy on Georgia's part," the Interfax quoted Bagapsh as saying.

"I would like to emphasize that the matter involves exclusively the Abkhaz Navy. No Russian naval forces have been employed or will be employed to resolve this issue," he added.