"Unacceptable" for Russia to recognize rebel regions

MOSCOW-Russia's parliament approved resolutions on Monday calling on the Kremlin to recognize two rebel regions of Georgia as independent states, a step Washington said would be "unacceptable."The United States, at odds with Moscow over its military intervention in Georgia, also accused Russia of failing to honor a ceasefire agreement by keeping a large military presence in Georgia's heartland.Both houses of Russia's parliament, controlled by Kremlin loyalists, swiftly endorsed non-binding resolutions urging President Dmitry Medvedev to recognize the pro-Moscow breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.Georgia and Russia fought a brief war over South Ossetia earlier this month after Tbilisi sent in troops to try to retake the province by force, provoking a massive counter-attack by land, sea and air by Moscow.Parliament's resolutions may signal Medvedev himself intends to grant recognition, or simply be a Kremlin bargaining chip.Medvedev, who under Russian law takes the ultimate decision on recognition, did not immediately comment on the votes.In Washington, the State Department urged him not to follow the lawmakers' lead. "To us that would be unacceptable," said spokesman Robert Wood. "Russia needs to respect the territorial independence and sovereignty of Georgia."

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