Russia's parliament has backed a motion urging the president to recognise the independence of Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Both houses voted unanimously in favour of the non-binding motion, which analysts say could help President Dmitry Medvedev in talks with the West.

The UK, Germany and Italy were among the nations expressing concern that the vote would further raise tensions.

Russia and Georgia fought a brief war this month over the two provinces.

Moscow launched a counter-attack after Tbilisi tried to retake South Ossetia by military force.

The US and a number of Western governments have backed Georgia, sending aid and issuing strongly-worded statements.

On Monday the White House announced Vice-President Dick Cheney would visit Tbilisi next month and hold talks with President Mikhail Saakashvili, in a move analysts say will further irritate the Kremlin.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel led a chorus of disapproval from European governments over the parliamentary vote.

"I presume that the Russian president will not sign this resolution, because that would bring about a very difficult and critical situation in regards to Georgia's territorial security," she said.

Moscow has once again stepped up its rhetoric on the issue.

Mr Medvedev said Russia could deal with anything Nato could threaten it with - including the severing of all ties. And Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Russia would consider scrapping some of the trade deals it had made in trying to gain entry to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

On the ground, most of Russia's forces pulled out of Georgia last Friday.

But some troops continue to operate near the Black Sea port of Poti, south of Abkhazia, where Russia says it will carry out regular inspections of cargo, fuelling speculation that Moscow is imposing an economic stranglehold on Georgia.

Troops also continue to operate in buffer zones that Russia controversially set up within undisputed Georgian territory.

photo & story courtesy bbc.com, 5/25/07