Washington  - Russia's recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia violates Georgia's sovereignty, the top industrialized democracies said Wednesday.

"Russia's recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia violates the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia," said the G7, which includes Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.

The G7 called on Russia to pull its troops back into the disputed breakaway provinces, out of Georgian territory and adhere to an August 11 ceasefire agreement.

"We deplore Russia's excessive use of military forces in Georgia and its continued occupation of parts of Georgia," the G7 said, in the latest condemnation of Moscow's military assault on the former Soviet Republic. (dpa)