Georgia preparing war against rebel region: Russia

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Georgia is preparing for war in its breakaway region of South Ossetia, Russia's foreign ministry said on Thursday after reports of overnight fighting in the area.

"Concern was expressed that the action of the Georgian side around Tskhinvali can be regarded war preparations," the ministry said on its website after a telephone conversation between Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin, and South Ossetia's leader Eduard Kokoity.

Russia has previously accused Georgia of building up its military forces around South Ossetia and its second breakaway region of Abkhazia, allegations the Georgia's have denied.

(Reporting by James Kilner; Editing by Jon Boyle)