Moscow inks treaties with Georgian rebel regions

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed friendship treaties with Georgia's breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia yesterday and promised them the backing of Russia's armed forces.

The treaties formalize military, diplomatic and economic co-operation between Moscow and the two regions, which Russia recognized as independent states after its brief war with Georgia last month.

Medvedev signed the treaties with South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity and Abkhaz leader Sergei Bagapsh. Only Nicaragua has followed Moscow's lead and recognized the enclaves as independent.