Bulgaria joined the chorus of voices that criticised Russia's recognition of the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the two break-away regions of Georgia, on August 26 2008.

"The decision of Russian authorities to recognise the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia is causing serious worry," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Dimitar Tsanchev said. "Bulgaria once again re-iterates its unconditional support for the independence, sovereignty and internationally recognised borders."

"This point has been repeatedly made by Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin and is shared by all Nato and Eropean Union member states, which have called on Russia to withdraw its troops from Georgia immediately and have committed themselves to helping the [local] population," Tsanchev said in a statement.

Russia formally recognised the two want-away regions in a decision that is likely to push the current tension between Moscow and Western capitals to new heights, world news agencies reported.

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev made the announcement in remarks broadcast live after meeting top ministers and defence chiefs, Agence France Press (AFP) reported. The announcement comes just a day after the two houses of Russian parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of motions to recognise the two regions.

"I have signed decrees on the recognition by the Russian Federation of the independence of South Ossetia and the independence of Abkhazia," Medvedev said, as quoted by Reuters news agency. "This is not an easy choice, but it is the only way to save the lives of people," he was quoted as saying.

Already at odds with the West over what has been labelled a "disproportionate response" in its conflict with Georgia earlier this month, when Tbilisi's efforts to re-store its authority in South Ossetia were squashed by Russian troops, Kremlin's recognition of the two break-away regions will likely further sour relations with the US and European Union. Moscow also cancelled the planned visit of Nato secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer as it suspended co-operation with the alliance.

Georgia's re-acted angrily, with deputy foreign minister Giga Bokeria quoted by BBC as saying that it was "an unconcealed annexation of these territories, which are a part of Georgia."

Recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia has already been condemned by European states. France, who holds the six-month rotating presidency of the EU and was at the fore-front of the efforts to broker a cease-fire, said the decision was "regrettable".

"We consider this is a regrettable decision and I recall our attachment to the territorial integrity of Georgia," a French Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, as quoted by Reuters.

"We reject this categorically and reaffirm Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity," a British Foreign Office spokesperson said, as quoted by AFP.

In Washington, secretary of state Condoleezza Rice said the decision to recognize the independence of two breakaway regions in Georgia is "extremely unfortunate", the Associated Press reported. US saw Abkhazia and South Ossetia as "part of the internationally recognized borders of Georgia" and would use its veto power in the UN Security Council to block any Russian attempt change their status, AP quoted Rice as saying.

US President George W Bush had earlied called on "Russia's leadership to meet its commitments and not recognize these separatist regions."

But in the two regions, which have been trying to have their self-proclaimed independence recognised since the early 1990s, the announcement was greeted with joy and celebratory gunfire, Reuters reported.

EU heads of state will meet on September 1 to discuss a common stand on the situation in Georgia. The majority of the bloc's countries were among the first to recognise the independence of Kosovo from Serbia in February, which Russia opposed, warning at that time that it would not hesitate to mirror the EU's position in other "frozen conflicts" on the territory of the former Soviet Union.