Moscow  - Russia has increased its peacekeeping force in the Georgian breakaway provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Interfax news agency reported Tuesday.

Moscow was responding to Georgia's relocation of troops to the Abkhazian border, Interfax cited the Russian Defence Ministry as saying.

Russia has stationed troops in the disputed region since 1994 under an agreement with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a collection of former Soviet republics, to maintain the peace.

"This is a concerted disinformation campaign to fan tensions in the disputed region," Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said.

The Russian Defence Ministry said the peacekeeping force build-up was to prevent "renewed bloodshed" and was not an attempt by Russia to annex Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Georgia has called on NATO for support in the conflict, while Abkhazia has already requested greater military back-up from Moscow.

The West has reacted with concern over the escalation in the southern Caucasus.

Tensions have increased between Georgia and Russia since President Vladimir Putin ordered a diplomatic rapprochement with Abkhazia in the middle of April.

Tbilisi accuses Moscow of shooting down a reconnaissance plane over Abkhazia, a claim Moscow denies.

Abkhazia says it shot down the plane as it had violated its airspace. (dpa)