Abkhazia pledges to continue reinforcing border with Georgia

SUKHUMI, November 7 (RIA Novosti) - The Abkhaz prime minister announced on Friday that the separatist republic was planning to reinforce its border with Georgia, saying that the current situation was similar to the period leading up to the August attack on South Ossetia.

"We will set security conditions to ensure a normal life for the people," Alexander Ankvab said at talks with Johan Verbeke, the UN Secretary-General's special representative for Georgia.

Georgia launched an attack on South Ossetia on the night of August 7, sparking a five-day war with Russia. Russia then recognized South Ossetia, along with Georgia's other separatist republic, Abkhazia, as independent states.

A ceasefire, hammered out in mid-August between Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and French leader Nicolas Sarkozy, ended major hostilities between Georgia and Russia. However, sporadic shootings and bombings along the poorly secured border separating Georgia and Abkhazia continue.