MOSCOW, September 3 (RIA Novosti) - Abkhazia and South Ossetia should decide for themselves whether they want international observers working on their territory, the Russian foreign minister said on Wednesday.

Sergei Lavrov said after the meeting with his Belgian counterpart Karel De Gucht that the issue of sending international observer missions to South Ossetia and Abkhazia from the EU or any other organization "should not be addressed to us [Moscow], but to Tskhinvali and Sukhumi."

Last month Heikki Talvitie, Europe's special representative for the South Caucasus, said the OSCE regional mission in Georgia would be increased from the 100 to 300 personnel.

South Ossetian leader Eduard Kokoity, however, said earlier that no international monitors would be allowed in South Ossetia, adding that, "We can hold talks with the OSCE, the EU and our friends from the UN only on observer numbers. But the observers will not be working on the territory of South Ossetia, but on Georgian soil."

Lavrov also reiterated the importance of the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe making a decision on the deployment of an international police force in South Ossetia to prevent further Georgian attacks.

"We, Russia, believe it is important that the OSCE make a decision on the structure of an international police force. We hope that the European Union will play a leading role in this," he said.

Moscow has laid partial blame for the bloodshed and devastation in South Ossetia on the United States and other Western powers, saying their military backing and political support encouraged Tbilisi to strike.

Western nations have strongly criticized Russia for its response to Georgia's attack and the recognition of Georgia's breakaway provinces, with several countries threatening sanctions and isolation.