Russia denies troops have taken Georgian town

MOSCOW, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Russia's Defence Ministry on Monday denied a Georgian claim that Russian troops had occupied the Georgian town of Gori, which lies close to South Ossetia.

"There are no Russian troops in Gori," a ministry spokesman said.

Georgian officials had earlier said that Russian troops had captured the town of Gori which is 60 km from Georgia's capital, Tbilisi. (Reporting by Oleg Shchedrov, writing by Guy Faulconbridge, editing by Conor Sweeney)