Ramallah - Russia's decision to recognise the independence of
Georgia's rebel regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia was
"regrettable," US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday.

"It (the decision) puts Russia in opposition to a number of (United
Nations) Security Council resolutions to which it is a party," she told
a news conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah, after meeting
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree Tuesday
recognizing the breakaway regions' independence, after Russian
lawmakers on Monday unanimously passed a resolution to that effect.

"There were talks about an international way to solve the conflict,
but to preempt these international discussions is extremely
unfortunate," Rice said.

Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Rice said, "are part of the international borders of Georgia and they will remain so." (dpa)