Russian Lawmakers Want Independence for Georgian Breakaway Regions

Russian lawmakers are calling on Russian President Dmitri Medvedev to recognize two breakaway Georgian regions as independent states - a move that would likely further strain Moscow's relations with the West.

All 130 members of Russia's upper house of parliament, or Federation Council, voted Monday to urge recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.  The lower house, or Duma, is expected to approve the same resolution later Monday.

The speaker of the upper house, Sergei Mironov, says South Ossetia and Abkhazia have a right to independence. Russia has backed separatists in both regions since their break from Tbilisi in the early 1990s, but had stopped short of declaring them independent from Georgia.

Georgia and Russia fought a war earlier this month after Georgia sent in troops on August 7 to try to re-take control of South Ossetia.

On Sunday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy called for European Union leaders to talk about the crisis in Georgia and re-examine relations with Russia.

The 27 EU leaders will gather in Brussels on September 1.  They will also consider an aid package for Georgia.  France holds the rotating EU presidency.