TSKHINVALI, Georgia (AFP)--Georgia's South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions planned rallies Thursday to ask Russia for recognition as independent states, two weeks after Russian troops occupied both provinces.
The street demonstrations aimed to put a popular stamp on appeals made Wednesday by the separatist leaderships for Moscow to recognize their self-declared independence.
And Russia - whose army remains entrenched after last week's battle to annihilate the last Georgian military presence - hinted strongly Wednesday that the rebels' wishes may be granted.
Russia's upper house of parliament is to consider the matter in an emergency session Monday.